President Trump announced on Tuesday two actions his administration has taken against China as tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to escalate.
During a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Trump announced that he had enacted the Hong Kong Autonomy Law and also put his signature on an executive order ending the United States’ preferential treatment of Hong Kong. .
“I signed a law and an executive order to hold China accountable for its oppressive actions against the people of Hong Kong,” said Trump. “No administration has been tougher on China than this administration.”
Trump’s signing of the Hong Kong Liability Law comes after the legislation was overwhelmingly passed in both the Senate and House earlier this summer. The law imposes sanctions on entities that help violate Hong Kong’s autonomy and financial institutions that do business with them, and arises in response to the passage of a “national security” law that tightened Beijing’s control over Hong Kong. , which has been semi-autonomous. of the continent since 1997.
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Chinese law, implemented earlier this summer, says those who destroy public facilities and services would be considered subversive. Damaging public transportation facilities and arson would constitute acts of terrorism. Anyone involved in secessionist activities, whether organizing or participating, would violate the law regardless of whether violence is used.
It comes after a full year of pro-democracy protests in the former British territory that was handed over to China 23 years ago on the condition that it would maintain a high degree of autonomy from mainland China and a British-style rule of law, a “one country, two systems” framework. China has slowly invaded Hong Kong’s autonomy, prompting United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this year to declare that “it is no longer autonomous.”
The new law prohibits what Beijing sees as secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities or as foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs and is seen as a direct response to democracy’s calls for protest. Under the law, the police now have extensive powers to search without warrants and order Internet service providers and platforms to remove messages that are considered a violation of the law.
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With Trump’s executive order, Hong Kong’s exports will be subject to the same tariffs that the White House has imposed on products from mainland China, which marks a severe blow to leaders in Beijing as they struggle to renew their economy in between. of the coronavirus pandemic and cut a lucrative loophole.
Trump’s announcement also comes a day after the White House rejected almost all of China’s claims in the disputed South China Sea.
The administration presented the decision as an attempt to curb China’s growing assertiveness in the region with a commitment to recognize international law. But it will almost certainly have the most immediate effect of further angering the Chinese, who are already retaliating against numerous US sanctions and other sanctions on other issues.
Ties between China and the US have been steadily deteriorating due to the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, Beijing’s policy towards Hong Kong, and trade. The Trump government also imposed visa bans on Chinese officials held responsible for banning foreigners’ access to Tibet, along with those believed to be imposing a civil rights crackdown in Hong Kong.
Tensions increased in recent days with actions taken by both the United States and China.
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On Monday, China said it will impose sanctions on three US lawmakers and an ambassador in response to similar actions taken by the United States last week against Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Muslims in the Xinjiang region.
US Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, Representative Chris Smith and Ambassador for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback were attacked, as was the Congressional Executive Commission on China. All four have criticized the policies of the ruling Communist Party towards minority groups and people of faith.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said the US move had “seriously damaged relations between China and the United States” and that China was determined to defend its national sovereignty against what it considers to be interference in its internal affairs. .
“China will respond more according to the development of the situation,” Hua said.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
