New Delhi: Gone are the times when 'Five Eyes' was spoken of in hushed whispers. In a possible sign of the times to come where the ‘Five Eyes’ alliance may be increasingly called upon to take definitive stands on global strategy and policy and especially against China, the countries forming the world’s oldest intelligence sharing spy network came out with a joint statement on Wednesday (November 18) slamming China on its Hong Kong policy.
The joint statement said: “We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, reiterate our serious concern regarding China’s imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong.”
Set up in 1941, ‘Five Eyes’ is an exclusive, very comprehensive and secretive club of spy rings of five governments—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and US—that collaborate to intercept information within other countries to be used for diplomatic, security, military and economic benefits and gains.
Till the late 90s, not much was known about the spy alliance. The role of ‘Five Eyes’ was further enhanced and expanded during the global ‘War on Terror’ following the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.
Read: 'China perceives rising India as rival; wants to constraint its ties with US, allies'
Wednesday’s statement added: “Following the imposition of the National Security Law and postponement of September’s Legislative Council elections, this decision further undermines Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms… We urge the Chinese central authorities to re-consider their actions against Hong Kong’s elected legislature and immediately reinstate the Legislative Council members.”