The United States have opened several of its fronts to put a leash on the Chinese dragon. The world’s ignorance to CCP’s actions came to an end with US’s reviving the QUAD Group, alliancing G7 countries against China and secretive programme offering economic trade and security concerns.
US is walking the talk, with economic sanction to punish China, not only for multifarious human right violation but also for disharmony and vigorous attempts to control Hong Kong, Taiwan and South East Asian Countries territories and but obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaos followed right after it.
In March 2021, US sanctioned 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over crackdown in Hong Kong. The sanctions include Wang Chen, one of Chinese top decision-making bodies and Tam Yeo Chung, the only Hong Konger on the committee that helped drafting the National Security law. Also, sanctioned official has been barred from travelling to the US, will face financial curbs including restrictions on banking, loans form US financial institutions and dealing with US entities.
Joe Biden’s administrative actions are an extension of what was put in place by Trump. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken’s stated, “The move is in response to the restriction imposed by China which would undermine Hong Kong’s electoral system. The sanctions were imposed under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.”
The Chinese Communist Party’s actions create far reaching implications for Hong Kong and the pro-democracy movement there. Such sanctions had a limited scope of effect in the past but presently the scope has widened leading to changing any political strategy for both Beijing and Hong Kong government. Since the imposed sanctions, Chief Executive Kari Lam attempted to outline a new framework in Hong Kong to push back against the US sanctions around its neck.
Washington is warning US companies about the “growing risks” of operating in Hong Kong. The US Senate unanimously passed a bill on July 15, 2021 banning import from Xinjiang Minority Muslim dominated region in China, that promotes the alleged abused & forced Uighur labour. The proposed law in a response to decade long alleged Chinese human right violations in the Xinjiang region.
The advisory issued by Biden’s administration in July 2021, points out to the Beijing imposed National Security Law. US Treasury, State, Commerce & Homeland Security Departments stated, “Businesses operating in Hong Kong, as well as individuals and businesses conducting business on the behalf are subject to laws of Hong Kong including the “National Security Law”. Foreign nationals including US citizens have been arrested under the NSL.
Risks listed by Washington includes, electronic surveillance and surrender of data to authorities. Seven officials from Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong were sanctioned. The seven people added to Treasury's "specially designated nationals" list were Chen Dong, He Jing, Lu Xinning, Qiu Hong, Tan Tienui, Yang Jianping, and Yin Zonghua, all deputy directors at the liaison office, according to online bios.
In response to US sanctions, Zhao Lijian, spokesman Chinese Foreign Ministry in a press conference stated, “US should abide by international law and should stop interfering in matters concerning Hong Kong and Chinese domestic affairs. China will impose strong countermeasures, depending upon US’ actions.”
The US extended an emergency designation over Hong Kong’s situation and Biden called Beijing’s tightening control of Hong Kong as an “extraordinary threat” to US security. The designation will be extended by 2022 and this declaration givinh sweeping power to Biden to impose sanctions apart from the ones already imposed.
The CCP mentions the US so often, that it seems China has no other goal but to save itself and the topic of Hong Kong from US. The recent actions could be the beginning of the US finally putting a leash on the Chinese dragon.
Source: Agencies
