The US and UK raised the issue of China’s controversial security law for Hong Kong during an emergency discussion in the Security Council, angering Beijing which said the UN organ should instead pay attention to the US’ excessive use of force against protesters in Minneapolis and its racial discrimination against black communities.

The 15-nation Council discussed Hong Kong in an informal virtual meeting after the US and United Kingdom brought the issue for emergency discussion under “any other business” on Friday.

“Today I asked the Council one simple question: are we going to take the honourable stand to defend the human rights and the dignified way of life that millions of Hong Kong citizens have enjoyed and deserve like all freedom loving people, or are we going to allow the Chinese Communist Party to violate international law and force its will on the people of Hong Kong who look to us to preserve their way of life and their freedoms?” US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said.

Craft said that the US is resolute and calls upon all UN member states to join it in demanding that China immediately reverse course and honour its international legal commitments to this institution and to the Hong Kong people.

Beijing shot back, saying the adoption of the legislation is purely China’s internal affair and has nothing to do with the work and mandate of the Security Council.

China’s Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun, along with Russia, slammed the US for the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died this week in Minneapolis after a white police officer kneeled on his neck while he was handcuffed and pinned to the ground, triggering violent protests.

“It’s our view that, instead of wasting time on this issue, the Council should pay more attention and even take action on issues more relevant to international peace and security.

“Just to name a few, the impact of the Brexit on international peace and security, the unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and other countries, the excessive use of force against protesters in Minneapolis, the killing of an African American young man and racial discrimination against African Americans. This list can be endless. China stands ready to work with you on these issues,” Zhang said.