China today threatened the United States with reprisals after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, passed a law that provides for sanctions against Beijing’s “repression” in its semi-autonomous Hong Kong territory.
The threat appears in a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released after summoning the US ambassador to Beijing to protest Washington’s sanctioning measures.
“[US law is] blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs. In order to safeguard its legitimate interests, China will provide the necessary response and impose sanctions on the American people and entities that are involved, ”warned Beijing.
“China will remain firm in its determination and in its will to safeguard its sovereignty”, it is also emphasized in the statement of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The imposition by Beijing in late June of a law on national security in the former British colony (until 1997) led to a setback for freedoms, with Washington, London and other Western capitals expressing opposition.
On Tuesday, Trump increased the pressure by announcing the end of the preferential economic regime attributed by the United States to Hong Kong, a major international financial center, after passing a law that provides for the imposition of sanctions against officials in Hong Kong and China.
“Hong Kong will be treated like China. There will be no special privilege or special economic treatment and there will be no exports of sensitive technologies, ”Trump said on Tuesday, adding that he also has no intention of meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to ease tensions.
The law, unanimously passed earlier this month by the US Congress, targets not only Chinese officials, but also Hong Kong police.
For its part, the Hong Kong security law seeks to suppress subversive activities and collusion with foreign forces that jeopardize national security.
