Instant International
Author: Xu Yi'an Ling Junxian
2020-05-28 20:30
Last update date: 2020-05-28 20:39US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has indicated to Congress on May 27 that he no longer regards Hong Kong as highly autonomous and will no longer guarantee the special treatment before the return of Hong Kong. U.S. media reported on May 28 that his statement would not trigger any Washington action. The next step was decided by US President Donald Trump.
David Stilwell, Assistant Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific of the United States Department of State in charge of Asia-Pacific affairs, also said on the 27th that Washington has a very long list of countermeasures, including visas and economic sanctions, but he declined to elaborate further. He said that Washington will target Chinese government officials while reducing the impact on Hong Kong people and the United States.
Reuters quoted informed sources on the 28th that Washington considered to suspend preferential tariff rates for Hong Kong goods exported to the United States. An anonymous person said that Trump may also target Chinese officials, government entities and companies involved in promoting the new law.
After US Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement, Washington's next action against China will be determined by US President Trump. The picture shows Trump (right) and Pompeo attending a press conference on the New Coronary Pneumonia Outbreak at the White House on March 20. (AP)
In a statement released on the 27th, Pompeo pointed out that Beijing's promotion of the "Hong Kong version of the National Security Law" is only "a series of the latest acts that fundamentally undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and freedom." In view of the reality, "no rational person can assert that Hong Kong still maintains a high degree of autonomy in the hands of China."
According to the "Hong Kong Policy Law" of the United States, the State Department needs to assess the degree of Hong Kong's autonomy. Pompeo pointed out that after carefully studying the recent developments, he confirmed to Congress today that Hong Kong will no longer be guaranteed the treatment accorded by the United States before the return. He also described that China clearly wants to transform Hong Kong into a Chinese city.
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