US mission to the UN accuses China of 'exploiting COVID-19' to distract from abuses in Hong Kong as tensions boil over

Eugene Hoshiko/Getty Images; Reuters

• The US mission to the UN accused China of exploiting the world's preoccupation with the spread of the new coronavirus to further erode Hong Kong's freedoms. 
• Tensions between the US and China are escalating over China's move to unilaterally impose national security laws onto Hong Kong. 
• In a statement on Wednesday, the US called out China's aggressive actions as a matter of global security and called for a virtual meeting of the UN Security Council.
• In response, China's mission to the UN refused the US request to convene a UNSC meeting, calling the US "the trouble maker of the world." 
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The US mission to the UN accused China of "exploiting COVID-19" to distract from abuses in Hong Kong as tensions boil over China's move to unilaterally impose national security laws onto Hong Kong. 

The new draft proposal, which will likely target secession, subversion, and foreign interference in Hong Kong, is expected to be passed at China's National People's Congress on Thursday.

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See Also:

• Beijing says it will unilaterally impose national laws in Hong Kong 'without delay' as thousands take to the streets in protest
• Defiant protesters chanting 'liberate Hong Kong' flood the streets to oppose China's grab for control
• Hong Kong activists are begging German Chancellor Angela Merkel not to sacrifice the country's values ​​to please China

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