New Zealand Suspends Hong Kong Extradition Treaty
- Move may strain relations with largest trading partner China
- China halts Hong Kong’s deals with Australia, Canada, U.K.
Winston Peters
Photographer: Dianne Manson/Getty Images
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New Zealand suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong, falling into step with its Western allies after China passed a national security law for the financial hub.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said in a statement Tuesday that New Zealand could “no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China.” The statement drew an angry rebuke from China, which also announced the suspension of Hong Kong’s extradition cooperation with Australia, Canada and the U.K. -- three countries that had already frozen their law enforcement pacts.