US State Department: Talks with China next week will be difficult

Reuters reported that the United States on Thursday condemned China's moves to change Hong Kong's electoral system, calling it a continuing assault on democracy in the territory.

"The changes approved by the National People’s Congress today on March 11 are a direct attack on Hong Kong’s autonomy, its freedoms and democratic processes, limiting political participation, reducing democratic representation and stifling political debate," State Department spokesman Ned Price told a news briefing.

Key notes

• U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS UNITED STATES CONDEMNS CHINA'S CONTINUING ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG
• 11-Mar-2021 12:59:22 - U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE WILL BE SOME DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHINESE NEXT WEEK
• 11-Mar-2021 12:59:43 - U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS U.S. WILL NOT PULL ANY PUNCHES IN DISCUSSING AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT WITH CHINA
• 11-Mar-2021 13:01:16 - U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS U.S. IS EXPECTING BEIJING TO DEMONSTRATE 'SERIOUSNESS' REGARDING ITS DESIRE TO CHANGE THE TONE OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
• 11-Mar-2021 13:02:07 - U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS U.S. WILL BE FRANK IN EXPLAINING HOW BEIJING'S ACTIONS CHALLENGE THE SECURITY AND PROSPERITY OF U.S. AND ITS ALLIES
• 11-Mar-2021 13:02:27 - U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS U.S. IS NOT LOOKING TO ENGAGE IN TALKS FOR THE SAKE OF TALKS WITH CHINA
• 11-Mar-2021 13:04:25 - U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS TALKS WITH CHINA DO NOT HAVE TO BE PURELY ADVERSARIAL, THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO RAISE POTENTIAL AREAS OF COOPERATION

More to come...