China tells US politicians to stop ‘interfering’ in Hong Kong after Nancy Pelosi backs push for democracy bill

China has called on US lawmakers to immediately halt the push for a bipartisan bill on human rights and democracy in Hong Kong, saying the situation in the city does not concern them.

The call by the Chinese foreign ministry came a day after Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced on Wednesday that she would withdraw a controversial extradition bill that triggered a wave of protests across the city.

The situation has also fuelled tensions between China and the United States, with Beijing accusing foreign “black hands” of being behind the unrest while increasing numbers of American politicians have expressed concern over the city’s direction.

Senior officials in the Trump administration have also been reportedly brainstorming ways to punish China in case of a violent crackdown by Beijing on the Hong Kong protesters.

In a statement on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she welcomed the withdrawal of the extradition bill, but urged the city’s leadership to do more to fulfil the “legitimate aspirations” of the Hong Kong people, including universal suffrage and an investigation into police violence.

Pelosi also said members of Congress “look forward to swiftly advancing the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act to reaffirm the US commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the face of Beijing’s crackdown”, adding that both Democrats and Republicans “stand united” in supporting the Hong Kong people’s pursuit of democracy.

The proposed legislation was co-sponsored by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, with support from both parties, following the start of mass protests in the city in June.

The bill, which must be passed by both houses, includes punitive measures on officials found to have suppressed human rights or “basic freedoms” in Hong Kong and requires the president to review the city’s special economic status each year.

Rubio said on Wednesday that the withdrawal was a “welcome but insufficient step”, and called for Beijing to “uphold its commitments to Hong Kong’s autonomy and stop aggravating the situation with threats of violence”.

Asked about Pelosi’s statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the US lawmakers should stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and abandon the bill.

“The Hong Kong issue is purely China’s internal affair. No foreign forces have the right to interfere,” Geng said on Thursday.

“We urge the relevant US politicians to abide by international law and regulations, respect China’s sovereignty, to immediately stop any form of interference in Hong Kong affairs, and to immediately stop reviewing Hong Kong-related legislation, in order to avoid harming China-US relations as well as the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.”

Chinese analysts said the withdrawal of the extradition bill would help to ease some of the US politicians’ concern over Hong Kong.

“As long as China doesn’t send in troops [to Hong Kong], there will be no reason for the US Congress to pass the bill,” said Shi Yinhong, director of the Centre for American Studies at Renmin University and an adviser to the Chinese government.

“The US has been using human rights as a reason to interfere in China’s domestic affairs, but unless the bottom line [no violent crackdown] is breached, the US lawmakers wouldn’t want to get too involved in the Hong Kong situation.”

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also welcomed the withdrawal of the extradition bill.

“These are welcome confidence-building steps,” Raab said. “I hope they lead to meaningful dialogue between the Hong Kong government and the people it serves.”