EU condemns arrest of Au Kam San; local and central governments refute accusations

The European Union (EU) has condemned the arrest of former legislator Au Kam San, who was detained for allegedly violating the National Security Law.

The EU said the incident further erodes Macau’s political pluralism and freedom of speech. Local government immediately responded, expressing strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the EU’s interference in Macau’s internal affairs.

The European Union External Action (EEAS) issued a statement on Saturday condemning the arrest of Au, an EU citizen and former Macau legislator, on national security charges, noting that it has heightened concerns about “the erosion of political pluralism and freedom of expression in the Macau Special Administrative Region”, while emphasizing that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is central to the Macau Basic Law and the “one country, two systems” principle.

“It is essential that the protected rights and freedoms of Macau residents remain fully upheld in line with the Macau Basic Law, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987 and Macau’s commitments under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights,” the EEAS statement notes.

Last week, the Judiciary Police (PJ) released a statement titled “A resident suspected of colluding with foreign hostile forces to endanger national security has been arrested,” detailing the arrest of a 68-year-old local man surnamed Au, who is accused of various national security-related crimes. The lengthy three-year investigation led to his identification and arrest, revealing that since 2022, he had been colluding with an overseas anti-China organization, supplying it with significant amounts of false and inflammatory information for public dissemination. Even after the amended National Security Law took effect in 2023, he continued to provide this information to support the organization’s activities and objectives.

The arrest of Au marks the first application of the National Security Law in the Macau Special Administrative Region since its adoption in 2009.

SAR and the Foreign Ministry express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition

On the same day, the Macau SAR government stated in response to the EEAS’s statement, expressing its “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to the EEAS’s remarks concerning the criminal proceedings and law enforcement actions taken by the Macau SAR under the National Security Law.

The statement also emphasized that implementing the National Security Law by the Macau authorities is solely an internal matter for China and its SAR, asserting that no foreign or external entity, including the EU, has the right to interfere.

“The Macau SAR will continue to fulfill its responsibilities in safeguarding national security in accordance with the law, ensuring the successful implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy for the long term,” the government stated. “Since its return to the motherland, the Macau SAR has achieved remarkable accomplishments in protecting human rights, which cannot be undermined by anyone.”

The SAR government refuted the EU claims, stating that during the investigation, police and judicial authorities adhered strictly to the law, effectively safeguarding the legal rights of the suspects involved. The government asserted that the National Security Law of Macau, enacted in 2009 and amended in 2023, effectively protects national security and local prosperity and stability. It emphasized that the fundamental rights of residents, including the right to vote and freedom of speech, are fully protected by the Basic Law of Macau, relevant laws, applicable human rights conventions, and the administrative, legislative, and judicial authorities of the SAR.

In response to the EEAS’s comments on Macau’s national security enforcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Office spokesperson in Macau expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition. It was stated that since Macau’s handover, the “One Country, Two Systems” framework has been continuously improved, effectively safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, while further enhancing the democratic political system. “Macau residents now enjoy broader rights and freedoms than at any time in history,” the spokesperson emphasized.

It was also observed that maintaining national security is the most essential prerequisite for a country’s survival and growth, asserting that the Macau SAR government’s enforcement of the National Security Law to tackle acts of colluding with hostile foreign forces is legally justified and entirely appropriate.