China strongly opposes and condemns U.S. President Donald Trump's signing of the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
This U.S. move has grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously violated international law, as well as the basic norms governing international relations, the foreign ministry said.
Noting that the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) fully conforms to China's Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, the foreign ministry stressed that the formulating and implementing the law is an important measure to ensure the steady and enduring growth of the cause of the "One Country, Two Systems."
The law has offered the institutional framework and legal guarantee of "One Country, Two Systems" as well as safeguarding the interests of national sovereignty, security and development, the foreign ministry added.
According to the statement, the legislation which ensures the HKSAR's long-term prosperity and stability is unanimously agreed and supported by all the Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots.
Reiterating that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and allow for no foreign interference, the foreign ministry said the Chinese government is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and oppose external interference in Hong Kong affairs
The U.S. attempt to obstruct China's national security legislation for the HKSAR will be to no avail and China will make necessary responses to protect its legitimate interests and impose sanctions on relevant U.S. personnel and entities, the foreign ministry said.
"We urge the U.S. side to correct its mistake, not to implement the so-called 'Hong Kong Autonomy Act' and immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way," said the statement.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang on Wednesday summoned U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad to lodge stern representations against Trump's signing of the bill.
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During the same day, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in HKSAR, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) and the spokesperson of the HKSAR government also strongly condemned and opposed U.S. interference in China's internal affairs.
"The so-called economic sanctions from the U.S. will not have any material impact on Hong Kong, but will only seriously damage its own interests as the U.S. has profited handsomely in Hong Kong for years," said the statement released by the LOCPG.
"Any so-called sanctions will never shake the firm determination of the Chinese government to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong," said the statement released by the HKMAO.
Any act or activity endangering national security, no matter what external forces support it, will be punished in accordance with the law, the statement added, warning that China firmly opposed the sanctions and will respond accordingly.
The spokesperson of the HKSAR government pointed out that out of its own political considerations, the U.S. has taken measures that violate international law under the pretext of human rights, democracy and autonomy, with the aim of creating trouble on the Hong Kong issue and suppressing China.
The United States seems to be deceiving itself if it believes that unilateral measures that restrict normal business or people-to-people exchanges will not affect its interests, the spokesperson noted.