China’s move to tighten control over Hong Kong in violation of previous pledges to honor the de facto city-state’s autonomy could galvanize Western allies to cooperate against Beijing.
“It is clear that Europe needs a common, coordinated, and a strong position on China,” Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Wednesday alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while describing their conversation about Hong Kong. “Open and free societies must stand up for our shared values, reject authoritarianism wherever it surfaces, defend our democracies from hybrid threats, from terrorism.”
Kofod’s meeting marked Pompeo’s second trip to Denmark since joining President Trump’s administration, though his previous visit took place as CIA director. U.S. relations with Denmark hit a rare snag last year due to the backlash against President Trump’s reported interest in purchasing Greenland from Danish authorities, but Pompeo’s team has worked to mend fences in recent months.
The political crisis in Hong Kong, a former British colony, has outraged European leaders, drawing allies closer together.
“As the European Union, we will not simply stand back and watch as China attempts to curtail these freedoms even more, with its imposition of the draconian national security law,” EU high representative Josep Borrell said Wednesday while unveiling an EU report on Hong Kong. “We are working on a comprehensive and coordinated EU response.”
Pompeo, who was explicit during his trip to London on Tuesday about his desire to “build out a coalition” of democratic allies to stymie China’s aggression, applauded Kofod’s comments and urged Danish authorities to be wary of Chinese Communist Party operations closer to home.
“I talked about the Chinese Communist Party’s threat to freedom everywhere, to the people of Denmark included,” he said. “We trust that Denmark will protect itself from this challenge. I am heartened to see that Denmark and the Danish people join the American people in supporting the Hong Kong people in the face of Beijing’s repression.”
