China’s top representative office in Hong Kong has condemned the US’ “unreasonable meddling” in the Asian financial hub.
The Hong Kong Liaison Office released a statement on Wednesday, describing as “gangster logic and bullying” US President Donald Trump’s move to strip Hong Kong of preferential trade treatment and impose sanctions on the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
The office said the sanctions, which Trump ordered Tuesday on the pretext of the new national security law in Hong Kong, would not have a significant impact on the special administrative region, but, instead, damage the US’ own interests.
“Unreasonable meddling and shameless threats by the United States are typical gangster logic and bullying behavior,” the statement said.
Trump’s move came two weeks after Hong Kong enacted a national security law that criminalizes sedition, secession, and subversion against mainland China and allows Chinese national security institutions to operate in the city for the first time since 1997 when Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule.
The US, Britain, and other Western countries have criticized the law and have moved to take action against Beijing and Hong Kong. China, however, insists that Hong Kong is a purely internal Chinese affair.
Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry said Wednesday Beijing will impose retaliatory sanctions against US individuals and entities after the US passed a law targeting banks that deal with Chinese officials who implement Hong Kong’s security law.
The Hong Kong government has also said it fully supported the central government in adopting counter-measures against the US.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry also summoned the US ambassador to Beijing over the Hong Kong sanctions.
Also on Wednesday, a White House National Security Council spokesman said Trump had not ruled out further sanctions on top Chinese officials.
“In no way has he taken anything off the table with respect to further sanctions of party officials for actions in Hong Kong or on other issues. Any suggestion otherwise by anonymous sources is flat out wrong,” John Ullyot said.
Although there are currently discussions underway at the White House about potential targets for sanctions, no final decisions have been made, according to a person familiar with the matter.
