China Sanctions NGOs, Suspends U.S. Naval, Military Aircraft Visits to Hong Kong

Dec. 2, 2019 (EIRNS)—China has imposed sanctions on the New York-based Human Rights Watch and other NGOs, as well as suspending the review of requests by U.S. warships to visit Hong Kong, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at her briefing today. The sanctions are in reaction to the U.S. signing into law of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019. Sanctions will also be imposed on the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute, two pillars of the National Endowment for Democracy, as well as against NED itself, and others.

“Recently, in disregard of China’s opposition, the U.S. signed into law the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. This is in severe violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations and serious interference in China’s internal affairs. In response to the unreasonable U.S. practice, the Chinese government decides to suspend reviewing requests of U.S. military vessels and aircraft to visit Hong Kong starting from today and to impose sanctions on NGOs that played an egregious role in the Hong Kong amendment bill disturbance, including the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. China urges the U.S. to correct its wrongdoing and stop meddling in China’s affairs, including Hong Kong affairs. China will take further measures if necessary, as the situation evolves to firmly safeguard stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and China’s sovereignty, security and development interests,”

Hua Chunying said. Hua further stated that China had suspended a review of a request for visits by U.S. naval vessels and aircraft to Hong Kong, specifying, “As for how long the suspension will last, it depends on how the U.S. acts.”

In response to a media question, Hua stated that sufficient evidence showed that some organizations have supported anti-China disrupters in Hong Kong and instigated them to commit violence, crimes, and secessionist activities. They should take the major responsibility for the current unrest in Hong Kong, and should be sanctioned as a price for what they did, Hua said, as reported by Global Times.