Trump to Announce Hong Kong Response This Week

U.S. President 👤Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States was working on a strong response to China’s planned national security legislation for Hong Kong and it would be announced before the end of the week.

China’s parliament is expected to approve a proposed security law that would reduce Hong Kong’s separate legal status on Thursday, calling into question the special economic status the territory currently enjoys under U.S. law.

At a White House news briefing, Trump was asked if he planned sanctions against China over Hong Kong and if he intended to put restrictions on visas for students and researchers from China.

“We’re doing something now. I think you’ll find it very interesting … I’ll be talking about it over the next couple of days,” he replied.

Pressed if this would include sanctions, he said: “No it’s something you’re going to be hearing about … before the end of the week, very powerfully I think.”

Trump did not elaborate.

China responded to the comments with a warning it would retaliate against any new measures.

“We will not accept any foreign interference, and to the wrong actions of outside powers in interfering in Hong Kong, we will take necessary countermeasures to hit back,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing.

“The issue … is purely China’s internal affair.”

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said he was displeased by the proposed security law for Hong Kong and found it “hard to see how Hong Kong can remain a financial hub if China takes over.”

Asked if this might mean an end to special economic treatment Washington affords to Hong Kong that has enabled it to maintain its position as a global financial center, McEnany said she had nothing to announce as to the precise response.