Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Monday 3 July 2017

China’s Xi: No tolerance for subversion in Hong Kong

By KELVIN CHAN on notice a new wave of
CHRISTOPHER BODEEN activists pushing for more
Associated Press autonomy or even inde-
HONG KONG (AP) — Chi- pendence, saying chal-
nese President Xi Jinping lenges to the power of Chi-
warned Saturday that any na’s central government
activities in Hong Kong seen and Hong Kong’s leaders
as threatening China’s sov- wouldn’t be tolerated.
ereignty and stability would Any attempt to challenge
be “absolutely impermis- China’s sovereignty, secu-
sible,” employing some of rity and government au-
his harshest language yet thority or use Hong Kong to
against burgeoning sepa- “carry out infiltration and
ratist sentiment in the terri- sabotage activities against
tory. the mainland is an act that
In a speech marking 20 crosses the red line, and is
years since the city be- absolutely impermissible,”
came a semi-autonomous Xi said, moments after pre-
Chinese region after its siding over the inaugura-
handover from Britain, Xi tion of Hong Kong’s new
pledged Beijing’s support leader, Carrie Lam.
for the “one country, two Hong Kong has been roiled
systems” blueprint, under by political turmoil that Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Hong Kong’s new Chief Executive Carrie Lam leave after
which Hong Kong controls brought tens of thousands administering the oath for a five-year term in office at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition
many of its own affairs and of protesters onto the Center in Hong Kong Saturday, July 1, 2017.
retains civil liberties includ- streets in 2014 demanding (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
ing free speech. democratic reforms.
However, he said Hong Those calls were ignored differences and provoking to Beijing, thousands of in their city.
Kong had to do more to by Beijing and Xi indicated confrontations will not re- pro-democracy support- Young activists have
shore up security and boost there would be no giving solve the problems,” Xi said, ers gathered for a march formed new groups pro-
patriotic education, in a ground in the future, frus- adding that Hong Kong through the city’s shop- moting independence or
veiled reference to legisla- trating many young people “cannot afford to be torn ping and financial districts a local Hong Kong identity
tion long-delayed by pop- and deepening divisions. apart by reckless moves or to demand greater politi- separate from the main-
ular opposition. “Making everything politi- internal rifts.” cal openness and oppose land, alarming Beijing.q
And he appeared to put cal or deliberately creating Hours after Xi flew home China’s creeping influence

US, Philippine navies patrol troubled waters in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) Sulu Sea on Saturday, add- ance and deter piracy and years. The Philippines, Ma- region.
— U.S. and Philippine navy ing that the operation was illegal activities.” laysia and Indonesia have Duterte and top defense
ships have patrolled waters carried out at the request “These patrols enhance agreed to take steps to de- officials, however, have
in the southern Philippines of the Philippine govern- regional peace and stabil- ter and stop the threats in walked back on those
where kidnappings by ran- ment. ity,” said Gabrielson, com- the busy waters. threats. The U.S. military
som-seeking Abu Sayyaf The coordinated patrol, mander of the Navy’s Task President Rodrigo Duterte, deployed a P3 Orion air-
militants have sparked a re- which was aimed at de- Force 73. who has moved to bol- craft recently to southern
gional security alarm. tecting and deterring Abu Sayyaf gunmen have ster economic and secu- Marawi city upon Philippine
U.S. Navy Lt. Commander threats, “was safe and rou- kidnapped crewmen from rity relations with China, request to help provide sur-
Arlo Abrahamson said a tine,” Abrahamson said. Malaysia, Indonesia and has threatened to bar U.S. veillance to Filipino troops
Navy combat ship, the USS U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Don Vietnam on board passing counterterrorism forces battling militants aligned
Coronado, and the Philip- Gabrielson said “our at-sea tugboats and cargo ships in the south, saying they with the Islamic State group
pine navy frigate BRP Ra- operations with the Philip- and held them for ran- could be targets of attacks who laid siege on the most-
mon Alcaraz completed pine navy demonstrate som on southern Sulu and and were fueling Muslim ly Islamic city starting last
the four-day patrol at the our commitment to the alli- outlying islands in recent restiveness in the volatile month.q