Comment on Merkel is under pressure to cut Germany's ties with China as the Hong Kong crisis triggers a European backlash against Beijing

Getty Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under heavy criticism from her own party and opposition politicians who say she is not taking a tough enough line on China. It comes amid international condemnation of China's new security law in Hong Kong, which critics say undermines the island's independence, and which has already seen police arrest hundreds of pro-democracy protesters. Powers including the US and the UK have all vocally condemned the new legislation, with the UK going as far as to offer citizenship to up to 3 million Hong Kong residents. Merkel, however, has been reluctant to condemn the move and insisted on the need to 'seek dialogue' with China on the basis of 'mutual trust.' It came as FBI director Christopher Wray said that China represented 'the greatest long-term threat' to US security and accused of secretive plots designed to steal state secrets. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The German Chancellor is under growing pressure to cut Germany's ties with Beijing as the Hong Kong crisis triggers a backlash against the Chinese government in Europe. Figures from across the political spectrum in Germany this week accused Merkel of being too soft on China, after Germany's foreign ministry warned German citizens in Hong Kong not to post comments that could be perceived to be critical of China because they could possibly be arrested.See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: What makes 'Parasite' so shocking is the twist that happens in a 10-minute sequenceSee Also:Boris Johnson's own party is threatening to scupper his government if he doesn't quickly remove Huawei from UK 5GHong Kong pro-democracy campaigners are planning a 'parliament in exile' as activists delete their social media and flee China's new security lawChina warns the UK it will take 'corresponding measures' to stop millions of Hong Kong citizens taking refuge in Britain