Hong Kong law draws global outrage and split response to sanctions

Japan and Europe balk at US hard line against China

"The purpose of this brutal, sweeping law is to frighten, intimidate and suppress Hong Kongers who are peacefully demanding the freedoms that were promised," U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in June 30 statement condemning the passage of the national security law. © Reuters

TSUYOSHI NAGASAWA and YASUO TAKEUCHI, Nikkei staff writers

July 1, 2020 03:16 JST

Updated on July 1, 2020 08:40 JST

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS -- China's passage Tuesday of national security legislation for Hong Kong drew international condemnation, but Europe and Japan did not join the U.S. push for sanctions, testing their unity against an increasingly emboldened Beijing.

"As Beijing now treats Hong Kong as 'One Country, One System,' so must the United States," U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement.