Trump’s National Security Advisor Warns China on Hong Kong
- O’Brien hints of sanctions after Beijing’s latest clampdown
- U.S. has so far held off on sanctioning top Chinese officials
O’Brien, in a statement released by the White House on Wednesday evening, said the U.S. would “continue to utilize all the powers granted” under various laws and “identify and sanction those responsible for extinguishing Hong Kong’s freedom.”
Photographer: Andre Borges/BloombergU.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said China’s latest clampdown in Hong Kong shows that the one country, two systems arrangement for the territory amounts to a “fig leaf” for dictatorship, and warned of new sanctions.
The warning came after China’s top legislative body on Wednesday passed a resolution allowing for the disqualification of any Hong Kong lawmakers who were not deemed sufficiently loyal. Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s government immediately banished four legislators, prompting the remaining 15 in the 70-seat Legislative Council to resign en masse hours later at a joint press briefing.