Beijing: China on Wednesday warned the US that it will definitely hit back with sanctions if Washington goes ahead with the implementation of President Donald Trump’s ‘Hong Kong Autonomy Act’ to end the preferential treatment to the former British colony.
President Trump has signed an executive order to end the preferential economic treatment for Hong Kong after China introduced a controversial national security law in the Asian trading hub to curb autonomy and democratic freedoms. Reacting to Trump’s announcement of signing the ‘Hong Kong Autonomy Act’, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the US should not implement it.
“We urge the US side to correct its mistake, not to implement the so-called ‘Hong Kong Autonomy Act’ and immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs in any way,” she told a media briefing here. This act smears our law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). If the US insists on going on the wrong path, China will definitely hit back, she said.
The US attempt to obstruct China’s national security legislation for the HKSAR will be to no avail and China will make necessary responses to protect its legitimate interests and impose sanctions on relevant US personnel and entities, she said.
“This US move has grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs and seriously violated international law, as well as the basic norms governing international relations,” she said. (PTI)
