China election rigging is condemned by UK and US but not by the EU, including Ireland

Within the last few days, we have witnessed the rigging of elections in Hong Kong. Pro-Democracy candidates were prevented from standing and Pro-Beijing candidates took 90% of the seats.

Prior to this, we had also seen pro-democracy media tycoon 79-year-old Jimmy Lai and other pro-democracy activists receive severe jail sentences under the draconian national security laws.

The rigging of the LegCo elections has been condemned by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. Why has there not been a similar response from EU member states including Ireland?

Nor should we also forget that the Chinese authorities are still preventing Richard O ‘Halloran from joining his family for Christmas once again.

John Cushnahan, Former European Parliament Rapporteur for Hong Kong 1997-2004, Ex Fine Gael MEP and Alliance Party leader

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