President Donald Trump is currently considering retaliating against China's proposed national security law, following the arrests of hundreds of protesters in Hong Kong.
"There's a whole menu of potential things that he [Trump] could do," U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said while appearing on Fox Business Network's Mornings with Maria. "And I'm sure they're working right now on how to refine the thinking and come up with something that's an appropriate response."
The White House declined to comment on this matter when asked for comment by Newsweek.
According to the BBC, about 300 protestors were arrested by police on Wednesday in the city. The news outlet reported that the protesters were planned to gather outside of the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong's Central District, but they were met by riot police and blocked off by water-filled barriers. Instead, protesters took to the streets blocking traffic near the Causeway Bay, as well as the Mongkok District.
The protesters were rallying against the proposed national security law in Hong Kong, that would ban treason, sedition and secession, as well as a proposed national anthem bill, that would criminalize insulting it.
On May 21, Trump said that if China passed the national security law, the U.S. would "address that issue strongly" and on Tuesday, the president doubled down, telling reporters during a White House briefing that "We're doing something now. I think you'll find it very interesting,"
"I'll be talking about it over the next couple of days," Trump added.
The proposed law in Hong Kong also garnered a response from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and on Wednesday, he released a statement certifying to Congress that Hong Kong no longer enjoys a high level of freedom from China.
"The State Department is required by the Hong Kong Policy Act to assess the autonomy of the territory from China. After careful study of developments over the reporting period, I certified to Congress today that Hong Kong does not continue to warrant treatment under United States laws in the same manner as U.S. laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1997," Pompeo said in a statement. "No reasonable person can assert today that Hong Kong maintains a high degree of autonomy from China, given facts on the ground."
Pompeo added that the decision on Hong Kong's autonomy "gives (him) no pleasure."
"But sound policy making requires a recognition of reality," Pompeo said. "While the United States once hoped that free and prosperous Hong Kong would provide a model for authoritarian China, it is now clear that China is modeling Hong Kong after itself."
Newsweek also reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
