China says Australia’s decision on Hong Kong meddling in internal affairs

China says Australia is meddling in its internal affairs by suspending an extradition treaty with the government of semi-autonomous Hong Kong and extending visas for those of the city’s residents who are currently in Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday that his government was suspending its extradition agreement with Hong Kong and would be extending the visas of 10,000 residents of the Chinese city already settled in the country.

Morrison said the decision was made in response to Beijing’s enactment last week of a new security law for Hong Kong, which he claimed “constitutes a fundamental change of circumstances” for the semi-autonomous city.

The Chinese Embassy in Australia denounced the decision as “a serious violation of international law… and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs.”

The embassy said in a statement that Beijing “strongly deplores and opposes the… measures” announced by Australia, and urged “the Australian side to immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs under any pretext or in any way.”

The new security law criminalizes sedition, secession, and subversion against mainland China. Its introduction was criticized by Western governments and prompted small protests in Hong Kong.

Critics view the legislation as a blow to the region’s autonomy and civil liberties, while China says the legislation would leave political freedoms intact and return stability.

Hong Kong was rocked by violent protests over another bill that would have reformed its extradition law last year. Rioters vandalized the city, destroying public and private property and attacking individuals deemed to be pro-government. Hong Kong dropped that bill, but the acts of violence continued.