Pompeo: "Hong Kong Security Law, an Insult to All Nations"... Suggests Additional Sanctions (Comprehensive)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min, Beijing=Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, expressed anger over China's implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (Hong Kong Security Law), calling it "an insult to all countries," and strongly hinted at additional sanctions. He also touched on the human rights issues in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a vulnerable point for China, warning that it could face "economic and legal risks." On the same day, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to sanction banks that deal with all Chinese officials involved in the enactment of the Hong Kong Security Law.

Pompeo's anger stemmed from Article 38 of the Hong Kong Security Law, which specifies penalties for foreigners. In a briefing on the 1st (local time), he expressed concern that Article 38 could apply to Americans and emphasized that the law is an insult to all countries. Article 38 stipulates that even those who are not Hong Kong residents but support Hong Kong's autonomy or demand sanctions against the Chinese government can be prosecuted if they enter Hong Kong. This is a poison clause that can apply the law to foreigners residing overseas. After this provision became known, U.S. media such as The New York Times criticized that the Chinese government could apply this law to anyone living anywhere in the world. Pompeo also claimed, "Hong Kong was once the most stable and prosperous dynamic city in the free world, but now it will only be a city under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party."

He also brought up the highly sensitive issue for China, "human rights," in earnest. The U.S. State Department announced that several U.S. agencies have issued business alerts regarding companies linked to supply chains involving organizations involved in forced labor and other human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region. They plan to impose various sanctions on companies that deal with organizations or facilities involved in forced labor in Xinjiang. The online media Axios reported that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently detained about 13 tons of wigs suspected to have been manufactured through forced labor in Xinjiang at U.S. ports.

The U.S. Congress is also accelerating legislation in response to the Hong Kong Security Law. According to the political media Politico, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill allowing sanctions on banks that deal with Chinese officials related to the Hong Kong National Security Law. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized, "China has sent a death signal to the 'one country, two systems' principle."

After the implementation of the Hong Kong Security Law, the United Kingdom pressured China by announcing plans to provide unrestricted citizenship to millions of Hong Kong residents so they can reside stably in the UK.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in Parliament immediately after the implementation of the Hong Kong Security Law, "Millions of Hong Kong residents holding British National (Overseas) (BNO) passports will have a pathway to resettle in the UK with their spouses and children," and pointed out that "the Hong Kong Security Law violates the 'Sino-British Joint Declaration (Hong Kong Handover Agreement)' signed in 1984, which contains the principle that Hong Kong's existing system will be basically maintained for 50 years after the sovereignty handover."

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also appeared before Parliament and said, "Hong Kong residents holding BNO passports will have the right to stay in the UK for five years, after which they will be allowed to apply for 'settled status' in the UK, effectively granting them permanent residency." He added, "There will be no limit on the number allowed," which is interpreted as meaning that all BNO passport holders will be accepted. The UK issued BNO passports to Hong Kong citizens when it handed Hong Kong over to China in 1997, but currently, BNO passport holders can only stay in the UK visa-free for up to six months.

On the first day of the Hong Kong Security Law's enforcement and the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's sovereignty handover, protests against the law's implementation took place late into the night across Hong Kong. A total of 370 protesters, including 10 arrested on charges of violating the Hong Kong Security Law, were detained by the police. Even peaceful protests led to arrests simply for carrying flags advocating "Hong Kong independence." The youngest person arrested was a 15-year-old girl waving a flag with a message of Hong Kong independence. Police warned protesters, "Displaying flags or shouting slogans with intentions of independence or subversion may constitute a violation of the Hong Kong Security Law."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.