China slammed the US for signing into law a HongKong-related bill that supports the pro-democracy movement in the city, callingit a severe interference in the country's internal affair.
US President Donald Trump has signed into law the HongKong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 bill, which mandates Washington toannually check if the city has enough autonomy to justify its special statuswith the US.
The new law and Beijing's repeated recent allegationsthat the US was among other western countries to support the pro-democracyprotests in Hong Kong has developed into a new bilateral problem between thetwo countries, which are in the middle of an ongoing trade war.
According to a Chinese foreign ministry statement, the move is a severe interference in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs. It is also in serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. The statement further reads that the Chinese government and the people firmly oppose such stark hegemonic acts.
It further stated that China urged the United Statesnot to continue going down the wrong path, or China will take countermeasuresand the US must bear all the consequences.
The statement comes after the Chinese foreign ministrysummoned the US envoy, Terry Branstad to protest against the bill.
The statement also read, "We remind the US that HongKong is part of China and Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and noforeign government or force shall interfere."
It also stated that this act will only further exposethe malicious and hegemonic nature of the United States' intentions to theChinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots. And the Chinese people willonly stand in greater solidarity. The US attempts are bound to fail, thestatement reads.
