Trump's Disagreement With China's National Security Law Has Resulted In The Loss Of Privileges Of Hong Kong

JAKARTA - The Chinese state media and the Hong Kong government have criticized the statement by the President of the United States (US) Donald Trump who ended Hong Kong's special status. Trump said this would be done if China continued to enact a new national security law in Hong Kong.

The US president also imposed various sanctions including banning some Chinese nationals from entering the US, a move he said would protect US scientific research and national security.

Trump said the US would also restrict Chinese nationals with ties to the People's Liberation Army from obtaining student and work visas. The sanctions were called attempts to target China's "military-civilian fusion strategy". It is not yet known how many Chinese citizens will be affected by the sanctions.

He also announced that he would revoke Hong Kong's preferential status as a separate territory from China, which could impact Hong Kong's visa-free travel to the US. But Chinese state media say that this US decision will hurt the US more than China.

"The baton of sanctions that the US states will not frighten Hong Kong and will not bring down China," said a spokesman for the Chinese Communist Party, via Chinese state media, the People's Daily.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong government expressed regret at the sanctions imposed by the US. He said that the US tarnished and vilified Hong Kong's sovereign rights and obligations to safeguard national security.

In a sign of diplomatic maneuvering, the US government said it would sell one of its main properties in Hong Kong, a luxury housing complex for Hong Kong $ 5 billion.

A spokesman for the US consulate in Hong Kong said this was part of a global program "strengthening the presence of the US government in Hong Kong" through reinvesting in other areas.

Chinese and Hong Kong officials have confirmed a law that China will directly enforce to restore order in Hong Kong that has been wracked by anti-Chinese government protests. They said the law would only apply to a small number of groups "deemed troublemakers".

However, protesters say they rail against China for making rules that penetrate Hong Kong's autonomy and freedom even though China pledges to grant Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under the so-called "one country, two systems" formula. A lot of action is planned in the coming weeks.

Just to note, the legal details regarding national security are still unclear, even for Hong Kong officials. But it is expected to be enforced by China's parliament this summer. This national security law is known to also prohibit secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong, and will be imposed without local legislative oversight.