Merkel: Not halting China relations despite HK issue

EPA-EFE/HAYOUNG JEON

German Chancellor Angela Markel said on Monday there are no reasons to halt diplomatic relations with China although the national security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong remains a "difficult issue."

Merkel previously expressed her government's worries that the bill, recently passed by the Communist Party of China, erodes "the important principle of 'one country, two systems'."

Earlier in the day, European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated the "draconian" law will affect the bloc's relations with China and that an official announcement on the matter will be made "soon."

Baha Breaking News (BBN) / JR