Ministry responds to US provocations on HK, Tibet, Taiwan

China urged the United States to stop using the Hong Kong issue to interfere in its domestic affairs and judicial sovereignty on Monday, after the US embassy in China called for the release of 12 Hong Kong fugitives.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a news briefing China opposes the remarks by the US embassy in Beijing, which showed complete disregard toward facts.

Ten people who face charges of illegally crossing the border and two who face additional charges of organizing the attempt went on trial on Monday, according to a statement released by Yantian District People's Court in Shenzhen on Monday.

The verdict will be announced at a date yet to be decided.

In August, 12 Hong Kong fugitives were detained by mainland coast guards as they tried to flee the city by speedboat to Taiwan.

Noting China is a law-based country, Zhao said the law must be observed and those who violate the law must be held accountable.

He urged the US to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations.

Also at the briefing, Zhao rejected US President Donald Trump signing into law the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 and the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020 over the weekend, which were included in a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package.

China urged the US to refrain from implementing clauses of relevant acts targeting China in order to avoid harming Sino-US relations, Zhao said.

The Tibet issue and the Taiwan question are China's domestic affairs and concern the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said, adding the US should stop using irrelevant issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.

"The determination of the Chinese government to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering," he said.