China on Thursday warned of strong countersteps if the US, Australia and the UK continued taking actions in response to Beijing’s tough national security law in Hong Kong, saying foreign pressure would “never succeed.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China “deplores and firmly opposes” the US parliament’s unanimous passing of a bill that would impose sanctions on entities that help violate Hong Kong’s autonomy and financial institutions that do business with them. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Thursday, a day after the House of Representatives also cleared it without opposition, a rare example of bipartisan support. It will now be sent to President Trump to sign into law or veto.
“The US attempt to obstruct this law is doomed to fail,” Zhao said at a regular briefing in Beijing. “We urge the US side to grasp the situation, abide by the basic norms of international law and international relations, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and advancing or implementing this negative bill. Otherwise we will take strong countermeasures and they have to bear all the consequences.”
China’s move to impose the security law risks reshaping the financial hub’s character 23 years after Beijing took control of the former British colony. The law’s vague language generated confusion about what activities were allowed, adding uncertainty for some businesses that have operations in Hong Kong.
The UK has offered to upgrade the status of British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong to offer a path to citizenship. Some 350,000 residents hold BNO passports and another 2.5 million of the city’s 7.5 million people are eligible for them. “China strongly condemns that and reserves the right to make further reactions,” Zhao said, adding that all BNO passport holders were Chinese citizens. “All the consequences shall be borne by the UK side.”
Australian PM Scott Morrison said on Thursday that his cabinet was “very actively” considering offering citizens safe haven, but didn’t provide further details. Zhao urged Australia to “stop moving further down the wrong path”.
German chancellor Angela Merkel said there were no plans for any specific measures to allow Hong Kong citizens, but added that the right to asylum in Germany was available to anyone in the world. Despite the opposition, Zhao defended the legislation, calling it “a burglar proof door for Hong Kong.”
On Thursday, Hong Kong police arrested a 24-year-old man at the airport on suspicion of stabbing and wounding an officer during a demonstration against China’s new security law.
