MACAO - The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR on Saturday expressed strong opposition to remarks made by the European External Action Service (EEAS) regarding recent criminal procedures and law enforcement actions carried out in Macao under the Law on Safeguarding National Security.

In an official statement, the Macao SAR government stated that all actions taken by local police and judicial authorities in the ongoing investigation were strictly in accordance with the law, with the legal rights of the suspects fully protected.

The statement stressed that the Law on Safeguarding National Security has proven effective in maintaining both national security and the prosperity and stability of Macao. The fundamental rights of the residents of the Macao SAR are not only fully guaranteed by the Basic Law and related laws, as well as human rights conventions applicable, but also fully safeguarded by the administrative, legislative, and judicial organs of the SAR, it noted.

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The SAR government emphasized that the implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Macao SAR is purely an internal affair of China and its Special Administrative Region, and no foreign country or overseas institution, including the European Union, has the right to interfere.

In a separate statement, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Macao SAR also issued a response, expressing strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the EEAS's remarks on national security law enforcement in the Macao SAR.

The spokesperson for the office noted that since Macao's return to the motherland, the "one country, two systems" has been continuously improved, and the country's sovereignty, security, and development interests have been effectively safeguarded.

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Safeguarding national security is the fundamental prerequisite for a country's survival and development, the spokesperson said, adding that Macao's law-based efforts to combat collusion with foreign hostile forces and activities endangering national security are consistent with international law and practices.

The commissioner's office voiced firm support for the Macao SAR government in fulfilling its duties under the law and supports the Macao police in taking legal actions under the law. The office urged the EU to refrain from making irresponsible remarks and to immediately cease interfering in China's internal affairs.

The Judiciary Police (PJ) of the Macao SAR government announced on Thursday that a Macao resident had been arrested by the national security enforcement unit of the PJ for allegedly violating the Law on Safeguarding National Security.