German FM Criticises HK Arrests, Calls For China To Uphold Basic Law

The German Foreign Ministry has issued a statement condemning the arrest of 53 opposition lawmakers and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong yesterday.

• Foreign Minister Heiko Mass stated that "With today's arrests in #HongKong, China is moving further away from its international commitments. We call on the Chinese government to uphold the rights of the individuals affected and the rule of law commitments that are enshrined in its Basic Law."
• The round-up of individuals is the largest so far since the enactment of Hong Kong's new security law which came at the behest of Beijing last summer.
• There will be notable focus in Europe on the actions of Germany in relation to the arrests. Germany has the largest economic relationship with China of any EU member state, and its gov't has often proved the most reluctant to take a hard-line against Beijing, whether in relation to its actions in Hong Kong, alleged human rights violations, or on China's trade practices.
• The arrests come at an important point in EU-China relations, with the EU-China investment deal having been agreed to provisionally last week by both sides. The Commission is believed to still be keen on the deal despite the arrests in Hong Kong, but already senior MEPs have said there may be issues, with German Social Democrat Bernd Lange MEP stating that there should be no assumptions that there is a 'built-in majority' for a deal.