Secretary of State Antony Blinken deleted a tweet this week that said the United States stands with the people of Hong Kong.
“Beijing should let the voices of all Hong Kongers be heard,” the original tweet said. “The PRC’s disqualification of district councillors only weakens Hong Kong’s long-term political and social stability. We stand with the people of Hong Kong & continue to support their human rights & fundamental freedoms.”
The tweet came after the People’s Republic of China announced the dismissal of seven pro-democracy councilors after determining their oaths were invalid.
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Blinken replaced the deleted tweet with another that did not specifically state the U.S. stood with Hong Kong but instead asked China to give power back to the people of Hong Kong.
“The PRC’s disqualification of seven pro-democracy district councilors undermines the ability of people in Hong Kong to participate in their governance,” the second tweet said. “Governments should serve the people they represent. Decreasing representation goes against the spirit of Hong Kong’s Basic Law.”
After the deletion of the first tweet, a spokesperson for the State Department tweeted a message that was identical to Blinken’s first tweet.
When the State Department was asked why Blinken deleted his tweet, a spokesperson told Fox News the tweet was originally supposed to come from the spokesperson, not Blinken. However, the spokesperson said it was not a political move.
“The team that manages the secretary’s Twitter account mistakenly sent the tweet intended to come from the spokesperson. We fixed that error and tweeted from both accounts, speaking out about Hong Kong authorities’ disqualification of pro-democracy district councilors,” the spokesperson said.”Suggestions that this administrative change was somehow motivated by political concerns is patently untrue. The tweets affirm — in words and in meaning — that the United States stands with the people of Hong Kong. We urge the PRC to allow the people of Hong Kong to meaningfully participate in their governance.”
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A representative with the Chinese foreign ministry’s Hong Kong office issued a statement criticizing “irresponsible comments from certain U.S. politicians.”
Dominic Raab, who was demoted from his role as United Kingdom foreign secretary this week, tweeted on Sept. 8 his support for the pro-democracy councilors in Hong Kong.
“Today’s arrests of members of the Hong Kong Alliance are another chilling demonstration of how the National Security Law is being used by Beijing to dismantle civil society and stifle political dissent in Hong Kong,” the tweet said.
