Trump says White House will ‘do something’ about Hong Kong issue by end of week
- US senators move to pressure China with Hong Kong sanctions bill
- Proposed legislation seeks to punish individuals who curb city’s freedoms and is response to controversial national security law put forward by Beijing
Lawmakers in the United States on Tuesday hoped to ratchet up pressure on Beijing over moves from the Chinese government to crack down on Hong Kong’s autonomy, even as President Donald Trump told reporters his administration would soon “do something” about the situation.
US senators have proposed a bill that would allow for sanctions against anyone with a role in violating “China’s obligations to Hong Kong under the [Sino-British] Joint Declaration and the Basic Law”, and on banks who do business with them.
The bipartisan “Sanctions Bill to Defend Hong Kong’s Autonomy” is the work of Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen and Republican senator Pat Toomey, and is in response to what Toomey’s office calls “increasingly brazen interference from the Chinese Communist Party”.
When asked if he was prepared to use sanctions against China over the issue, the president said: “We’re doing something now. I think you’ll find it very interesting. It’s something you’re going to be hearing about … before the end of the week – very powerfully.”
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White House says Beijing’s proposed national security law for Hong Kong could lead to US sanctions
The bill’s proposal follows a new national security law for Hong Kong put forward by Beijing last week that would ban treason and other perceived offences in the city.
