US Commerce and Defense Departments Intensify Offensive Ahead of Hong Kong Security Law Processing
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] As China’s Hong Kong National Security Law is about to be enacted, the United States is intensifying pressure on China. After the Department of Commerce opened fire, the State Department also joined in.
On the 29th (local time), the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the withdrawal of Hong Kong’s special status. In a statement signed by Secretary Wilbur Ross, the Department of Commerce stated that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s regulations granting special privileges to Hong Kong, such as export license exceptions, have been suspended in relation to China’s push for the Hong Kong National Security Law.
The statement also indicated that additional measures to eliminate Hong Kong’s special treatment are being considered.
Following the Department of Commerce, the State Department also took action to pressure China. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, “The Chinese Communist Party’s decision to deprive Hong Kong of its freedoms has led us to reassess our policy toward Hong Kong,” and announced that from that day forward, the export of defense articles to Hong Kong would be halted, along with measures to stop the export of dual-use technologies for civilian and military purposes to Hong Kong.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 29th of last month that he would begin the process of revoking Hong Kong’s special status as a retaliatory measure against China’s forced enactment of the Hong Kong Security Law. Since 1992, the United States has guaranteed Hong Kong special status different from mainland China in tariffs, investment, trade, and visa issuance through the Hong Kong Policy Act.
Secretary Pompeo also criticized China’s human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region and hinted at possible sanctions. In a separate statement, Pompeo said, “We have obtained reports that China has been conducting forced abortions and sterilizations against ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region,” and stated, “The United States will continue to sound the alarm on the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights violations.”
Since U.S. President Donald Trump has signed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, the United States has also paved the way to sanction China in this regard. Sanctions against China under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act are also expected to be implemented in connection with the enactment of the Hong Kong Security Law.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China is expected to pass the Hong Kong Security Law on this day.
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