Beijing vows to retaliate after US’ Hong Kong human rights bill is approved by congressional committees
- Foreign ministry spokesman says the bill is a malicious attempt to contain China’s rise
- Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act progressed through Senate and House committees on Wednesday
China said it would “hit back forcefully” at the United States after American legislation which threatens to alter Hong Kong’s special economic status – introduced in support of the city’s pro-democracy protesters – moved closer to becoming law.
Two Congressional committees in the US House and Senate approved the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 on Wednesday, setting the stage for votes in both chambers in coming weeks and ramping up pressure on Beijing to dial down tensions after three months of mass protests.
Beijing responded furiously to the bipartisan support for the bill – which could pave the way for diplomatic action and economic sanctions against the Hong Kong government – from both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the bill “confuses black and white in disregard of facts … grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, which fully reveals the ill intentions of some people in the United States to mess up Hong Kong and contain China's development.”
If passed, the bill would, among other actions, require the US to sanction Chinese officials deemed responsible for “undermining basic freedoms in Hong Kong” and require the US president to annually review Hong Kong’s special economic status.