Daily US Times: The United States has imposed visa restrictions for a number of Chinese Communist Party officials believed to be responsible for undermining freedoms in Hong Kong.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the sanctions targeted “current and former” party officials.
He said the step followed President Donald Trump’s promise to punish China over a proposed security law that could erode Hong Kong’s autonomy.
The announcement comes just days ahead of a meeting of China’s parliament.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress which starts on Sunday and it will discuss the new law at its meeting.
China has proposed security legislation that would make it a crime to undermine China’s authority in Hong Kong. The proposed law could also allow Beijing installing its own security agencies in the territory for the first time.
The move has sparked international criticism and a new wave of anti-mainland protests in Hong Kong.
Mr Pompeo’s statement on Friday did not mention the names of the Chinese officials affected by the US visa restrictions. The visa restrictions followed a recent vote by the US Senate to impose sanctions on individuals who undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy and the banks that do business with them.
Chinese embassy in Washington responded to the US move saying Beijing “firmly opposes the US side’s wrongful decisions”.
“We urge the US side to immediately correct its mistakes, withdraw the decision and stop interfering in China’s domestic affairs,” the embassy statement posted on Twitter added.
In response to China’s plans, Mr Trump also said last month that he would start to end preferential treatment for Hong Kong in trade and travel, in response to China’s plans.
Mr Trump said Beijing was replacing “its promised formula of One Country, Two Systems with One Country, One System.”
He said: “This is a tragedy for Hong Kong… China has smothered Hong Kong’s freedom.”
China’s parliament has already backed the resolution for the new legislation, which now passes to the country’s senior leadership.
Hong Kong was always meant to have a security law, but could never pass one because it was so unpopular among the residents. Beijing is now stepping in to ensure the city definitely has a legal framework to deal with what it sees as serious challenges to its authority.
The law would make criminal any act of:
- terrorism – using violence or intimidation against people
- subversion – undermining the power or authority of the central government
- secession – breaking away from China
Experts say they fear the law could see people punished for criticizing Beijing – as happens in mainland China.
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