China and the US face off over sanctions over Hong Kong
Trump announced new sanctions in protest of China’s security law for Hong Kong, aimed at condemning China’s “repressive behavior.” China is retaliating by imposing sanctions on American individuals and institutions in response to the new US sanctions.
US President Donald Trump has signed a new bill imposing new sanctions on the People's Republic of China in protest against a new "security law" that China has imposed on the Hong Kong region.
Trump said at the White House that China's "repressive behavior" should not go unanswered. The new legislation would allow US officials and agencies to sanction individuals or entities involved in "suppressing freedoms in Hong Kong." The US Senate and House of Representatives have already approved the sanctions.
The new sanctions include freezing the assets of individuals in the United States and barring them from entering the country. A number of foreign banks that the United States believes are following China's lead in violating Hong Kong's autonomy are also subject to sanctions. For example, US financial institutions are prohibited from extending credit to such banks.
Trump announced that Hong Kong no longer enjoys special status for the United States and that all privileges granted to it will be revoked. From now on, the United States will no longer grant Hong Kong special privileges, economic exemptions, and sensitive technologies, and it will be treated “as part of China.”
In his latest remarks, Donald Trump spoke harshly about China, saying in an interview with CBS News: "I have no interest in talking to China right now."
Referring to the agreements reached last January between the two major countries, he said: "The essence of these agreements had not yet dried up when they struck us with disease."
Trump continues to accuse China of not doing enough to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sanctions against sanctions
In response to the new sanctions, the People's Republic of China announced on Wednesday morning (July 15) that it would take a series of punitive measures against the United States. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, the sanctions will cover both American individuals and enterprises and companies.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, details of the sanctions will be released in the near future.
In a commentary, China National Television condemned the new US sanctions and once again urged the country not to interfere in China's internal affairs.
Source: DW
