WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday reaffirmed a determination made last year through Trump’s leadership that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous and does not deserve a special remedy from the United States.
In a report sent to Congress, Blinken said China had continued to “dismantle” Hong Kong’s autonomy since its predecessor, Mike Pompeo, first took up the resolution in May 2020. As a result, Blinken said, the former British colony did justify U. S. trade and the monetary benefits it enjoyed since its return to Chinese rule in 1997 with Beijing’s promise of significant autonomy for 50 years.
The resolution is another indication that President Joe Biden’s management has not deviated from President Donald Trump’s hard line over China. On Tuesday, the State Department reiterated Trump’s characterization of the Chinese remedy to Uighur Muslims and other minorities in western Xinjiang as “genocide. “
“Over the next year, the People’s Republic of China has continued to dismantle Hong Kong’s maximum degree of autonomy, in violation of its obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law,” Blinken said. the adoption of the People’s Republic of China and the implementation through the Hong Kong government of the National Security Act have seriously violated the rights and freedoms of Hong Kongers. “
In an accompanying report, Blinken cited the adoption of the Security Act, as well as arbitrary arrests and detentions of democracy protesters, opposition figures and politicians, as well as great relief on the number of elected members of the territory legislature.
Congressional certification is required through the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was passed by an overwhelming two-party majority in 2019 and was enacted through Trump.
The law requires the United States to impose sanctions against those guilty of human rights abuses in Hong Kong and whether the city continues to gain special status. Biden and Trump administrations imposed sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials as a result of decisions by some.
Under the terms of a Chinese-British agreement, Hong Kong will enjoy significant communist government autonomy in Beijing for 50 years from 1997. This autonomy will come with protections for freedom of expression and autonomy under what China called a “one country, two “systems” policy.
“We will continue to ask the CPP to comply with its external obligations and commitments; avoid the dismantling of Hong Kong’s democratic institutions, autonomy and rule of law; prompt release and withdraw all fees against unfairly detained in Hong Kong; and respect the rights of all Americans in Hong Kong,” Blinken said.
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