Editor's note: Andrew Korybko is a Moscow-based American political analyst. The article reflects the author's opinion and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Chinese officials confirmed on Monday that some acts of terrorism have indeed recently occurred in Hong Kong. Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong Xie Feng, Hong Kong Secretary for Security John Lee, and Hong Kong Commissioner of Police Chris Tang were unanimous in their separate statements to this effect, even revealing that some of the troublemakers had conspired with foreign forces to carry out such acts. Their official disclosures add a renewed impetus to the draft decision of the national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, terrorism has wrongly been associated by many in the West almost exclusively with Muslims, but this method of warfare knows no religion, ethnicity or boundaries.

Terrorism can also take many forms. Examples include carrying out suicide attacks and using various weapons such as improvised explosive devices, firearms and knives to harm, maim or kill innocent civilians, political officials and members of the security services alike. By its very definition, terrorism aims to terrorize the population.

That's exactly what's been happening in Hong Kong over the past year ever since the onset of the violent protest movement last summer. Not every person who participated in or supported these demonstrations is a terrorist, but some of them were clearly carrying out the previously mentioned activities.

The residents of Hong Kong have been suffering as a result of this hybrid war that was hatched against their city, and this scourge runs the risk of worsening and becoming even deadlier if it's not stopped as soon as possible.

This explains the importance of the recently proposed national security legislation. Central governments all across the world are responsible for ensuring national security regardless of their administrative structure – be they a unitary state, a federation, or something in between.

Nevertheless, this apolitical security-driven effort by the authorities has regrettably been exploited as a pretext for renewing violent protests and subsequently "legitimizing" the selfsame acts of terror that it's intended to thwart.

The problem isn't purely a domestic one either since, according to the authorities, some of the individuals suspected of being involved in the city's terrorist activities are alleged to have colluded with foreign forces.

The foreign forces weren't described, but it's already publicly known that some Western NGOs have been linked to the violent protests, and a few Western politicians have also openly endorsed them. Considering the political context in which this is occurring, it can reasonably be speculated that some intelligence agencies are also involved.

The external politicization of the national security legislation for the HKSAR by the U.S. is extremely dangerous because it can, at the very least, embolden these same terrorist-inclined individuals to continue their campaign of violence across the city, believing whether rightly or wrongly that they have the implicit support of the American government.

This poses a dire threat to the well-being and safety of the city's residents, hence why China is pushing back so strongly against the latest narrative related to the U.S.' information war against it.

Terrorism is one of several threats that affect all of humanity. It knows no religion, ethnicity or borders. Just like the world should come together to combat COVID-19, so too should every country stand together in solidarity to combat terrorism.

Regrettably, the U.S. is the conspicuous outlier in both global safety campaigns. The Trump administration refuses to cooperate with the international community against COVID-19, and it's also threatening to sanction China for its draft decision of the national security legislation for the HKSAR.

The American pattern of behavior is worrisome because it strongly suggests that the country is truly becoming a rogue state. It has defied the global consensus on COVID-19 and is also in the process of doing the same when it comes to terrorism.

It is a real pity because many Americans have died from both, yet their government is manipulating these threats to intensify its campaign of pressure on China. Hopefully, the U.S. leadership comes to its senses before it's too late and more people die because of its Machiavellian games.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)