Secretary of state Mike Pompeo
Michael (Mike) Richard Pompeo An Argument in Favor of US Health Diplomacy USA Ends Defense Exports to Hong Kong by China’s National Security Law Voters Must Strongly Reject President’s Abuses by voting in November MORE He condemned China on Tuesday for passing controversial national security legislation that critics say will further strip Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Pompeo said in a statement that the United States will not “stand idly by” as Beijing places the semi-autonomous territory in its “authoritarian jaws.”
“The decision of the Chinese Communist Party to impose draconian national security legislation in Hong Kong destroys the territory’s autonomy and one of China’s greatest achievements,” said Pompeo.
“Hong Kong demonstrated to the world what a free Chinese people could achieve: one of the world’s most successful economies and vibrant societies. But Beijing’s paranoia and fear of its own people’s aspirations have led it to disembowel the foundations of the success of the territory, turning ‘One country, two systems’ into ‘One country, one system’ “, he added.
The law, approved by the Chinese Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, is reported to penalize foreign interference, subversion and secession. President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order enacting the law shortly after the panel approved it.
Legislation has been at the center of anti-government protests in Hong Kong for months, with activists calling the law an attempt to curb autonomy granted under the British surrender of Hong Kong in 1997. Critics fear the law may be used to repress dissent.
Pompeo had previously said that Hong Kong would no longer be subject to special trade terms granted due to the “one country, two systems” agreement. The Trump administration also last week imposed visa restrictions on CCP officials that Pompeo said were “responsible for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.”
The administration has not named the people affected by the sanctions.
“We are finalizing exports of defense and dual-use technology to the territory,” he added. “By President Trump
Donald John Trump Top intelligence officials issue statements criticizing the leak of information about Russian rewards. Information on Russian rewards was included in Trump’s daily briefing: Reports that Senators will have access to intelligence about Russian rewards on US troops MOREAccording to the instructions, we will remove the policy exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special treatment, with few exceptions. “
China responded to U.S. visa restrictions on Monday by imposing its own visa restrictions on certain Americans.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the restrictions would apply to people who have committed “flagrant conduct related to Hong Kong.”
The official also added that the United States’ attempts to “obstruct China’s legislation to safeguard national security in Hong Kong” “will not be successful.”
“The national security law for Hong Kong is purely China’s internal affairs and foreign countries have no right to interfere,” Zhao said, according to CNN.
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