According to the “Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 18, a reporter asked: U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement on January 15 that in response to the recent arrest of more than 50 democrats by the Hong Kong police, the U.S. State Department, in accordance with the relevant presidential executive order, has issued six central Chinese governments and Xiang Hong Kong SAR government officials impose sanctions.
How does China respond to this?
Hua Chunyu: The relevant actions of the United States openly interfere in Hong Kong affairs, grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs and China’s judicial sovereignty, and seriously violate international law and the basic norms of international relations. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this.
Hong Kong is a society ruled by the law, and everyone is equal before the law. It is the basic requirement of the rule of law to follow and to punish violations of the law.
We firmly support the relevant departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to crack down on illegal and criminal activities, safeguard legal authority and safeguard national security in accordance with the law.
In response to the wrong behavior of the United States, China has decided to impose reciprocal sanctions on U.S. executive branch officials, congressional personnel, non-governmental organization personnel and their immediate families who have performed poorly on Hong Kong-related issues and are mainly responsible.
I would like to emphasize again that Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs.
The United States must immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and endangering China’s national security under various guises, and not go further and further on the wrong and dangerous road.
There is also a reporter’s question: The United States has recently taken actions such as relaxing restrictions on US-Taiwan exchanges on Taiwan-related issues.
China said that it would take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereign security interests, and the United States will certainly pay a heavy price for its wrong behavior.
What specific measures does China have?
Hua Chunyu: In view of the wrong behavior of the United States, China has decided to impose sanctions on the responsible U.S. officials who have performed badly on the Taiwan issue.
