Chinese Foreign Ministry warned the U.S. of the consequences of China's countermeasures if it continues to "act arbitrarily" in regards to Hong Kong after U.S. President Donald Trump's signing of a Hong Kong-related bill on Thursday.
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The ministry condemned in a statement that the bill is a gross interference in China's internal affairs, a gross violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations, and a naked act of hegemony, which the Chinese government and people firmly oppose.
"The 'One Country, Two Systems" principle has achieved success since Hong Kong's return, and Hong Kong residents have enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights in accordance with the law," the statement stressed, adding that U.S. efforts to sabotage the principle were "doomed to fail".
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China is determined to safeguard its sovereignty, security and interests, said the statement.
The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Thursday also expressed its "strong opposition and disappointment" towards the bill.
In a media release issued Thursday morning, the HKSAR government said the two bills, which count as meddling in Hong Kong affairs, were "unnecessary and unwarranted" and would harm the U.S.-Hong Kong relations and common interests.
The U.S. president approved S. 1838, the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019," and S. 2710 on Wednesday.
The bills were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last Wednesday and by the Senate a day before.
Since the bills' passage in U.S. Congress, China has responded with solemn representations against the United States. It summoned William Klein, the acting charge d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and expressed "strong condemnation" for Washington's meddling in Beijing's internal affairs.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said those bills aim to mess up and even destroy Hong Kong and the U.S., by introducing such acts, has violated basic norms governing international relations.
China has previously warned strong countermeasures if the bills became laws.
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China summons U.S. ambassador, makes solemn representations over U.S. interference in HK affairs
Expert: Washington has a history of interfering other nations' affairs
William Jones, Washington Bureau Chief of Executive Intelligence Review magazine, said Washington has a history of interfering into other countries' internal affairs. This time, their target is Hong Kong, one of the most important global financial hubs.
"The U.S. thinks it can weaken the Belt and Road Initiative in this way, and subsequently weaken China's influence through the initiative," the chief of the weekly news magazine based in Virginia told CGTN.
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