• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service
No Result
View All Result
Friday, March 5, 2021
THE MILLENNIAL SOURCE
  • World
  • US
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Profiles
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Travel
    • Tech & Money
    • Health
    • Entertainment
  • Newsletter
TMS
No Result
View All Result
Home WORLD

US ends defense and high-tech exports to Hong Kong as Beijing passes national security law

byJane Yap
June 30, 2020
in WORLD
Reading Time: 4 minute read
US ends defense and high-tech exports to Hong Kong as Beijing passes national security law

Source: Head Topics

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin



On Monday, it was announced that the United States would halt exports of defense equipment to Hong Kong and place restrictions on dual-use technology exports as a “direct consequence” of Beijing’s proposed national security law. Several hours later, news broke that China had passed the bill, granting the mainland sweeping powers over the city.

US ends defense and high-tech exports to Hong Kong as Beijing passes national security law

According to local media, the bill received unanimous support and could be enacted as soon as Wednesday of this week.

Despite this, full details of the legislation remain elusive and have yet to be disclosed to officials on the island. However, it is broadly known to criminalize acts and activities related to secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security. 

“As Beijing moves forward with passing the national security law, the United States will today end exports of US-origin defense equipment and will take steps toward imposing the same restrictions on US defense and dual-use technologies to Hong Kong as it does for China,” said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on Monday.

“Our actions target the regime, not the Chinese people. But given Beijing now treats Hong Kong as ‘One Country, One System,’ so must we,” he continued, citing a need to protect US national security. 

Hong Kong had previously enjoyed special privileges that allowed it to freely import American technologies and defense equipment that Beijing either did not have access to or required special licenses for. However, the Trump administration declared in May that Hong Kong was no longer considered to have a “high degree of autonomy” and was instead, becoming a “model for authoritarian China.” 

“We cannot risk these items falling into the hands of the People’s Liberation Army, whose primary purpose is to uphold the dictatorship of the [Chinese Communist Party] by any means necessary,” said Pompeo.

This comes after the US Senate unanimously passed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act last week which would impose mandatory sanctions on individuals and companies believed to be involved in undermining the freedoms promised to Hong Kong under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. 

In direct retaliation, China announced on Monday that they would be imposing visa restrictions on US officials “with egregious conducts on Hong Kong-related issues.” 

Speaking at his regular news conference on Monday, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian condemned the US’ “vicious denigration” of the national security legislation and “grave interference” in China’s internal affairs. 

“Their attempts are doomed to fail. This act will be nothing more than a piece of paper,” he said, directly referring to the Hong Kong Autonomy Act. 

Zhao declined to elaborate when questioned about who would be targeted by the new visa restrictions, only stating that the individuals concerned are “well aware [of who they are].”

Republican diplomat Pat Toomey, who co-authored the Senate bill, said that Beijing’s move to retaliate against US individuals was “evidence that the Hong Kong Autonomy Act would have the intended effect of punishing abuses and they are afraid of the consequences.”

These tit-for-tat moves act to further strain the already difficult US-China relationship and also come amid the two nations’ efforts to execute their part of the phase one trade deal. While both countries reaffirmed their commitment to this deal during recent talks in Hawaii, recent sanctions are bound to complicate matters.

Yun Sun, the director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington said that the US administration’s ambiguity was “trying to signal room for leverage and flexibility.” 

“If Beijing complies with US demands, the US list will be lenient,” she continued. Beijing’s reaction would in turn be “proportional in terms of the scope and intensity.” 

Many also remain apprehensive over the effects of the worsening relationship between the two world powers.

Executive Director and Chief China Economist of DBS Bank Chris Leung stated his belief that the relationship between the two nations would continue to be rocky and likely worsen over the next six months.

“As long as the issue of the national security law is unsettled, there will be no Phase two in US-China trade talks,” he said. 

Some also fear that the rising tensions will eventually also affect individuals rather than just diplomats and businesses. 

Jia Qingguo, a professor of international studies at Peking University in Beijing said, “No matter whether you are an overseas student, or a tourist, or businessperson, if the atmosphere is not good, you will gradually be affected.”

Have a tip or story? Get in touch with our reporters at [email protected]

Like TMS? Subscribe to our free daily newsletter

Related

Tags: AsiaPoliticsShort read
ShareTweetShare

Latest Posts

After raising US$8.3 billion in loans, what’s Tencent going to do next?

After raising US$8.3 billion in loans, what’s Tencent going to do next?

March 4, 2021
How would Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2% wealth tax work?

How would Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2% wealth tax work?

March 4, 2021
After an ascendant 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is having a terrible 2021

After an ascendant 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is having a terrible 2021

March 3, 2021

The Biden administration’s changes to the Paycheck Protection Program

March 2, 2021

The Dasgupta Review offers economically viable solutions for combating climate change

March 2, 2021

Here are the biggest take-aways from CPAC 2021

March 1, 2021

The House passed a COVID relief bill. What’s in it?

February 28, 2021

The Dasgupta Review urges us to rethink the economics of climate change and nature

February 28, 2021

China’s Lunar New Year experiment with digital currency

February 28, 2021
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service

© 2020 The Millennial Source Ltd.

No Result
View All Result
  • World
  • US
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Profiles
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Travel
    • Tech & Money
    • Health
    • Entertainment
  • Newsletter

© 2020 The Millennial Source Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

The Millennial Source
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.