US Issues Executive Order Revoking Hong Kong's Special Status (Comprehensive Report 2)

Trump "Treat China Mainland the Same"
State Department Also Mentions Sanctions on Chinese Companies Related to South China Sea
Effectively Turning Election Campaign into Biden-China Issue

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] On the 14th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to revoke Hong Kong's special status. He also signed a bill sanctioning banks that deal with Chinese officials involved in the implementation of China's Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law). As China included the U.S. company Lockheed Martin, which sold weapons to Taiwan, in the sanctions list, the U.S.-China conflict is escalating uncontrollably.

President Trump is raising his hand and moving after finishing a press conference at the White House Rose Garden on the 14th.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

At a press conference held in the White House Rose Garden after signing the order, President Trump said, "Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China." He added, "(Hong Kong) will have no privileges, no special economic treatment, and no sensitive technology exports." President Trump said this move ends Hong Kong's preferential treatment as a punitive measure against oppressive actions toward Hong Kong citizens. He emphasized that he ordered the end of Hong Kong's trade privileges and highlighted that this action is to hold China accountable for passing the Hong Kong Security Law.

President Trump also raised the issue of China's responsibility for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He stated that China will be held fully accountable for concealing and triggering COVID-19 worldwide.

However, his remarks on the day are also seen as being mindful of the upcoming presidential election in November. After criticizing China at the press conference, he directed remarks toward Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. President Trump claimed, "No administration in history has been tougher on China than ours." Regarding Biden's announcement of a $2 trillion investment plan in the green energy industry, he also argued that the Paris Climate Agreement, which he decided to withdraw from, would have allowed China to pollute the atmosphere without any penalties.

The U.S. also intensified its offensive against China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. The possibility of sanctions against Chinese officials and companies was even mentioned. David Stilwell, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said at a South China Sea-related conference that in response to a question about possible sanctions on China, "Nothing is off the table," and "There is room for this (sanctions)."