Iran Press/America: United States President Donald Trump signed Wednesday a law that expresses support for protestors in Hong Kong who say they want to curb how much Beijing is able to control their lives.
In a statement, the White House said Trump signed the legislation which requires annual reviews of Hong Kong’s special trade status and sanctions against any official responsible for human rights violations.
The statement reads as " They are being enacted in the hope that leaders and representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all.”
Trump also signed legislation which “prohibits U.S. exports of specified police equipment to Hong Kong,” said the White House statement.
Beijing has reacted with fury to US President Donald Trump's decision to sign into law congressional legislation backing protesters in Hong Kong summoning the United States ambassador and warning of "countermeasures" over what it branded a "severe interference" in China's affairs.
At a daily news conference in Beijing on Thursday, Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said Beijing may take unspecified countermeasures. “This so-called act will only make the broad Chinese people, including their compatriots in Hong Kong, more aware of the sinister intentions and hegemonic nature of the U.S.,” he said, adding that “the plot of the U.S. side is doomed to failure.”
Le Yucheng, China's vice foreign minister, told US Ambassador Terry Branstad in their meeting on Thursday that Washington's move constituted "a serious violation of international law", a foreign ministry statement said.
Le urged the US not to implement the bills - approved by Trump on Wednesday - to prevent greater damage to Washington-Beijing relations, the ministry said.
The legislation, approved unanimously by the Senate - the US's upper house - and by all but one member of the House of Representatives - the lower house - last week, requires Hong Kong's special trade status with the US to be reviewed annually by the State Department, and also threatens sanctions for human rights violations.205/219
Read More:
Chinese FM: Hong Kong is integral part of China
China slams US intervention in Hong Kong
US blatantly Interferes in internal affairs of other countries
