Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the U.S. no longer views Hong Kong as politically autonomous from China, a stark escalation in response to China’s plan to impose new security restrictions on the territory.
“Today, I reported to Congress that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China, given facts on the ground,” the secretary wrote on Twitter. “The United States stands with the people of Hong Kong.”
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Pompeo clarified in a further statement that China’s expected passage of a national security law meant to impose more restrictions on Hong Kong’s autonomy will not allow for Washington to “continue to warrant treatment under United States laws in the same manner as U.S. laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1997.”
“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,” the secretary said.
The U.S. since 1992 has had separate political, economic and trade relations with Hong Kong. The policy carried over when the territory was transferred from British rule to Beijing control in 1997 and is part of how the U.S. views China’s “one country, two systems” policy.
The separation between mainland China and Hong Kong has allowed the city-territory to flourish as a global financial capital and drawn international praise for its high degree of political and individual freedoms.
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The increasing efforts by China to exercise control over Hong Kong has received push back from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the European Union.
But the announcement Wednesday by Pompeo is the most concrete action taken against Beijing as relations between the U.S. and China have fallen to one of the lowest points in recent history, largely over the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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- Discussion
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Pompeo says Hong Kong no longer qualifies as autonomous from China https://t.co/VIOsh1pTtr pic.twitter.com/l9yyUlH7nT
— The Hill (@thehill) May 27, 2020
In case it wasn't sufficiently clear already, SECSTATE Pompeo, by calling Beijing's bluff over Hong Kong today in stern diplomatic language, signifies that the era of great power competition between the USA & PRC has officially begun. No more wishful thinking. Reality is back.
— John Schindler (@20committee) May 27, 2020
Every European democracy should publicly say:
If you are in Hong Kong and Chinese communists are pressing you and your human rights, come to Europe and we will give you asylum.
This is a matter of principle, Europe as a global leader on human rights.
Please, retweet this now.
— Jakub Janda (@_JakubJanda) May 27, 2020
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