US, China spar over new Hong Kong law
China promises ‘firm response’ to Trump’s order ending Hong Kong’s special status
By IAR Desk
China has promised a‘firm response’ to Us President Donald Trump’s order ending Hong Kong’s special status . Beijing has said, American institutions and individuals are to be targeted after President Trump signs the new law, reported the South China Morning Post. China said it will sanction United States institutions and individuals after US President, Donald Trump signed an executive order and a new law requiring punitive measures over Beijing’s recent legislation for Hong Kong.
A statement by the Chinese foreign ministry reported how Trump’s move to sign the Hong Kong Autonomy Act into law was a violation of international relations norms, and a serious interference and violation in China’s internal affairs. “The Chinese government resolutely opposes it and condemns it,” the statement said. “To protect its legitimate interests, China will take necessary action to impose sanctions against related US institutions and individuals.”
The statement did not give details on what the sanctions would entail further , but added that China’s actions would be “determined” and that US attempts to block the implementation of the new national security law in Hong Kong would fail.
China is also reported to have said that it would follow the pattern of its countermeasures of sanctioning a US entity and four US individuals over the US’ attempts to sanction Chinese individuals for mistreatment of Uighur Muslims in China. It would be reciprocal in number with the US action,said Chen Long, a partner with independent research agency Plenum.
US senators Chris Van Hollen and Patrick Toomey, who introduced the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, were also likely to be on China’s retaliation list. Senator Josh Hawley and some Congressmen might also be targeted, Chen is quoted as saying.
Trump also signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act as well as an executive order ending Hong Kong’s preferential trade treatment on Tuesday. It was also reported that while signing the law, Trump said Hong Kong would be treated the same as mainland China.
“No special privileges, no special economic treatment, and no export of sensitive technologies,” he added as per the South China Morning Post.
The details of Trump’s executive order includes an elimination of the preferential treatment for Hong Kong, SAR passport holders compared to China passport holders, as well as an suspension of the agreement between Hong Kong and the US over the surrender of their wandering offenders.
The executive order also ends US training for the Hong Kong police and other security services in the city, and also the revocation of licence exceptions for exports reaching, Hong Kong.
Such restrictions will also be imposed on academic and science research, suspending further cooperation between US geological survey and and the Chinese University’s Institute of Space and Earth Information Science.
The joint declaration set the terms for handing over Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule and ascertained that the city would enjoy high degrees of Autonomy until 2047,as reported.
