Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday the US would slap visa restrictions on hardline Chinese Communist Party officials responsible for efforts to restrict freedoms in Hong Kong.
“President @realDonaldTrump promised to punish the CCP officials responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong’s freedoms. Today, we are taking action to do just that– we’ve announced visa restrictions on CCP officials responsible for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and human rights,” Pompeo tweeted.
The announcement came in response to moves by China to impose new security legislation on Hong Kong, which prompted President Trump last month to begin a process to eliminate special economic treatment that has allowed the territory to remain a global financial center.
It also came at a time of escalating US rhetoric against China and when polls have shown Americans are increasingly bitter toward Beijing, especially over the coronavirus, which began in that country.
Pompeo said China’s Communist Party had stepped up efforts to undermine the former British colony’s autonomy through the national security legislation and by putting pressure on local authorities to arrest pro-democracy activists and disqualify pro-democracy electoral candidates.
Even those charged with singing the mainland’s national anthem in an unflattering way could wind up behind bars.
China’s actions came after raucous pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong paralyzed parts of the semi-autonomous financial hub last November.
Pompeo called on China to honor its commitment to allow Hong Kong “a high degree of autonomy” and added: “The United States will continue to review its authorities to respond to these concerns.”
Earlier this week, FBI Director Christopher Wray called China the greatest threat to the US.