Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday urged Beijing to respect Hong Kong's special status in international law, in a speech aired live in Denmark.

"By allowing anti-democratic forces and autocrats to advance abroad, we are neglecting our own democratic values," she said via video to the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit.

"Taiwan has joined the international community in urging the Beijing authorities to honour their obligation to respect Hong Kong's fundamental freedoms" she added.

On Thursday China moved closer to passing a controversial national security law for Hong Kong that has raised international concerns it will end the financial hub's limited freedoms.

Under a "One Country, Two Systems" agreement before Britain handed the territory back to China in 1997, Beijing agreed to let Hong Kong maintain certain liberties and autonomy until 2047 -- including legislative and judicial independence and freedom of speech.

In her speech on Friday, the Taiwanese president also took the opportunity to promote her own country as "a vibrant, open, and respectful democracy, and a force for good in the world" which will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Hong Kong.

Her speech came the day after the Taiwan government announced it will open a special office next month to deal with Hong Kongers wanting to move to the island, including those seeking sanctuary for "political reasons".

Tsai, elected in January for a second mandate, has championed Taiwan a as sovereign state totally independent of Beijing.

China has ramped up fighter flights and warship crossings near Taiwan or through the Taiwan Strait since Tsai was first elected in 2016, as she has refused to acknowledge that the island is part of "one China".

Taiwan has been ruled separately from China since the end of a civil war in 1949, but under its "One-China" policy, Beijing considers it a part of its territory, with reunification by force an option.

China's embassy in Copenhagen protested against the Taiwan leader's participation in the annual event in Copenhagen, as well as that of Joshua Wong, a prominent pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong.

The embassy said in a statement that their participation was "a violation of China's internal affairs".

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also on the list of speakers.

China to set up 'national security agency' in Hong Kong: state media
Beijing (AFP) June 20, 2020 - China will set up a "national security agency" in Hong Kong to oversee a forthcoming new law aimed at cracking down on dissent in the city, state media said on Saturday.

The new law also would override any existing Hong Kong laws that may conflict with it once it is implemented, Xinhua news agency said in a report detailing the draft legislation.

The report followed the conclusion of a meeting in Beijing of China's top law-making committee during which it reviewed a preliminary draft of legislation aimed at snuffing out the pro-democracy movement that has rocked the semi-autonomous city.

The Hong Kong security agency would be chaired by the city's chief executive and would be empowered to act to address security threats.

Xinhua said the eventual law would criminalise "secession, subversion of state power, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces" that endanger security.

It said the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress -- China's rubber-stamp legislature -- would "soon finalise" the legislation.

The controversial national security law has raised international concerns that it will end the financial hub's remaining freedoms.

The fast-tracking of the bill -- which is bypassing Hong Kong's legislature -- also has compounded fears in the finance hub that mainland style political repression is on its way.

The draft also stipulates that if Hong Kong laws clash with the provisions of the upcoming legislation, the power of interpretation lies with the Standing Committee in Beijing.

EU demands release of Chinese rights lawyer
Brussels (AFP) June 19, 2020 - The EU on Friday demanded the immediate release of a Chinese human rights lawyer sentenced to four years in jail, saying his right to a fair trial was not respected.

Yu Wensheng was sentenced Wednesday, after two years in detention, on charges of "inciting subversion of state power" after penning an open letter calling for constitutional reforms.

An EU spokesperson said Yu's trial was held behind closed doors and he was deprived of his right to a fair trial with a proper defence.

"The European Union expects China to ensure full respect of the rule of law, to establish fair trial guarantees and to investigate thoroughly all reported cases of arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment and torture of human rights defenders and their families," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"We call for the immediate release of Yu Wensheng."

The case will add to EU-Chinese tensions just days before of a video summit meeting, with relations already on edge over a host of disputes from trade issues to security and human rights.

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