Hong Kong activist urges Germany to pressure China

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Hong Kong protest leader Joshua Wong on Wednesday called on Germany to do more to pressure China by suspending trade talks and halting exports of weapons and equipment.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Wong accused China of repression and said the police used excessive force during recent protests.

“The protests in Hong Kong are not likely to stop because we are still fighting for fundamental rights and democracy,” he said.

Joshua Wong, secretary general of the pro-democracy group Demosisto, arrived in Berlin on Monday to attend an event organized by Bild daily, which brought together prominent political and civil rights activists from all over the world.

During the event, he also met German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, in a meeting which drew strong criticism from China.

Wong told reporters that during his meeting with Maas, he brought up their expectations of Germany, including suspending trade talks and halting exports of weapons and equipment that police could use against protestors.

“I made the specific demand to urge them, send a clear message to President Xi Jinping, that sending troops to Hong Kong, or execute emergency order is not a way out,” he said.

The 22-year-old activist said that following his meetings in Berlin, he will travel to the U.S. later this week.