Responding to China’s imposition of its ‘national security’ laws on Hong Kong, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo today tweeted that “Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China,” adding, “the United States stands with the people of Hong Kong.” This dramatic change by China will have far reaching consequences for Hong Kong and China, as well as U.S. relations with both.
Pompeo’s declaration was based on what he described as the People’s Republic of China’s “disastrous decision” to “unilaterally and arbitrarily” impose national security legislation on Hong Kong and “undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms.”
But what does all this mean?
Hong Kong was previously ruled by Great Britain but was signed over to China in 1997 under the understanding – ratified by UN treaty – that it would retain a level of autonomy. For decades Hong Kong had thrived under its own ‘democratic’ charter, acting as a free market financial hub for the region. That will now change.
In his official written statement, tweeted by Joyce Karam at The National, Pompeo said:
The State Department is required by the Hong Kong Policy Act to assess the autonomy of the territory from China. After careful study of developments over the reporting period, I certified to Congress today that Hong Kong does not continue to warrant treatment under United States laws in the same manner as U.S. laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1997. No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China, given facts on the ground.
Hong Kong and its dynamic, enterprising, and free people have flourished for decades as a bastion of liberty, and this decision gives me no pleasure. But sound policy making requires a recognition of reality. While the United States once hoped that free and prosperous Hong Kong would provide a model for authoritarian China, it is now clear that China is modeling Hong Kong after itself.
With Hong Kong’s autonomy now removed, the territory will likely lose the financial benefits that came with its economic separation from mainland China. In a recent interview with NBC, reported by American Military News (AMN), “White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien said the U.S. would likely impose the same sanctions on the once autonomous Hong Kong that have, until now only applied to the mainland.”
According to AMN, O’Brien added that the Chinese economy is reliant on Hong Kong’s success as a financial market for its overall economic success. “I hope they’ll take that into account as they contemplate their next step,” O’Brien said.
What could be the next U.S. steps? The New York Times reported that:
Any move by the Trump administration to curtail trade and economic relations with Hong Kong would deal a major blow to the territory… And it would be a harsh punishment for China, which relies on the thriving city of ports and skyscrapers on the edge of the South China Sea as a nexus for transactions with other countries. Many Chinese and foreign companies use Hong Kong as an international or regional base, and members of elite Chinese Communist Party families or executives with ties to them do business and own property there.
The Trump administration is considering imposing the same tariffs on exports from Hong Kong that it puts on goods from mainland China, according to officials with knowledge of the discussions.
Expect further actions from the White House after China finalizes its decision tomorrow. The U.S. is likely to take a calibrated approach to breaking off cooperation with official Hong Kong, including steps on trade. President Trump will then need to issue an executive order to end the unique relationship entirely.
As Pompeo said, “The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong as they struggle against the CCP’s increasing denial of the autonomy that they were promised.”
Hopefully, this will lead to added sanctions against Beijing and more support for the people of Hong Kong.
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The UN needs to go,kick them out of NYC!!
Yep, that is what I was wondering.
“Where is the worthless UN?
The 2nd amendment is all that keeping the US from a similar path.
If china takes complety over of hong kong then yes the same sactions should apply to them as china we need to make everything we need hear I know it will cost us more and some companys that use manufacturn factorys there are going to be hurt but so be it
Beijing needs to be nuked. It has to happen sooner or later, better the sooner.
Better to take away their wealth. But they could still react violently.
They call them dictators for a reason. The tyranny of these horrible people is evident to the entire world.
Looking for where it will come from NEXT? That would be from ONE WORLD ORDER, aka BILDERBERGS and Council on Foreign Relations.
Did anyone with a brain seriously think the Chicoms would keep their grubby hands off Hong Kong forever?
Read the “Epoch Times” for a Chinese viewpoint not controlled by the CCP. The dems don’t like it!
China is not taking away the freedoms of Hong Kong, the black-clad rioters who have been burning down Hong Kong since last June, with financial and moral support from the US, the gleeful media who have misreported and obstructed police actions at street level, and our smug so-called democrat politicians who done nothing but obstruct the proper workings of our legislative council ever since the handover in 1997 are the ones responsible. Open your eyes people, and your brains.
This is punishing Hong Kong not China. Our freedoms are as strong as ever. Worry about your own freedomS.