The conflict between the US and China on Friday moved to a new level. American President Donald trump at a specially convened press conference announced: the US no longer consider Hong Kong’s independent of Beijing’s territory and, accordingly, will be deprived of this special administrative region (SAR) of China all privileges. In addition, sanctions will be imposed against Chinese officials who “undermine the autonomy of Hong Kong.” The occasion was the adoption in China of a resolution On “national security”, which regulates relations between Beijing and Hong Kong. Critical of Beijing and warnings about possible steps to protect the residents of the SAR were in the other countries of the West. The reaction from Beijing in each case was the same: we are talking about interference in the internal Affairs of China, and hostile actions will not remain unanswered.”Decisive response” to China, Donald trump announced Tuesday. On Thursday, he reiterated that Washington “not happy” with how China behaves, but the intrigue on the steps of the American leadership is maintained. On Friday morning, according to Washington, he wrote in a Twitter message with a single word: “CHINA!”. The intrigue was resolved in the evening. Coming to the journalists, Donald trump has listed all their claims against China — and industrial espionage, which, according to the head of the White house, constantly uses the PRC, and distribution of “Wuhan virus”, and the attack on the rights of Hong Kong residents. He announced that the United States deprive Hong Kong’s privileged status, as due to the actions of Beijing, he ceased to be a separate part of China. Speech, in particular, the special effect is still the terms of trade with Hong Kong, and also the agreement on extradition, which is now a thing of the past.”China has not kept its promise of ensuring the autonomy of Hong Kong. It replaced its promise to follow the principle of “one country, two systems” on the principle of “one country — one system”,” said Donald trump, referring to the conditions under which, in 1997, this area came under British control under the control of Beijing.In addition, will be revised travel advice to Hong Kong: now the state Department should warn Americans that in Syria they can meet the threat of surveillance by the Chinese security forces. Another measure is the introduction of sanctions against officials, “undermining the autonomy of Hong Kong.” “China says it is about security. But the truth is that Hong Kong is safe and well, it being a free society,” said Donald trump. Also in the plans — a ban on entry into the United States for a number of Chinese citizens, which may be the United States a threat to national security. To clarify about whom exactly there is a speech, Donald trump did not.At a press conference dedicated to China, the head of the Whitego home touched another indirectly related topic — has announced the termination of funding of the world health organization (who) and the redirection of financial resources to address “other pressing problems in the world in the field of health care”. Earlier, Mr. trump has repeatedly criticized the who for the lack of her criticism of China during a pandemic coronavirus. “The world wants answers from China on the virus,” he said. And he concluded: “Our actions (in relation to China.— “B”) are strong and meaningful”.Recall that during the election campaign in 2016, Donald trump made strong comments about China and its role in the modern world. For a time it seemed that disagreement was settled during the state visit of the head of the White house in Beijing, in November 2017: then Mr. trump and the leader of China, XI Jinping, did not stint compliments to each other. However, in the summer of 2018 broke out trade war, manifested in the mutual introduction and increase of duties on import of various goods. In January of this year, President trump and Vice-Premier of the state Council of the PRC Liu he signed the first package of documents under the trade agreements between the two countries that was supposed to symbolize the normalization of relations. Soon, however, began a new aggravation in connection with the pandemic coronavirus.The last straw was the decision of Beijing to change the law relating to Hong Kong. On Thursday, members of vsekitajsky meeting of national representatives (vsnp, the “Parliament” of China) supported the resolution On “national security”. It provides for measures to prevent security threats in Hong Kong, including a ban on “secession, Subversion and terrorism”. It is expected that Beijing will have the right to use the special administrative region of members of their intelligence, which, according to supporters of the autonomy of Hong Kong allows Chinese authorities to detain without trial of unwanted citizens.Beijing’s plans not only caused large-scale protests in Hong Kong itself, but also provoked criticism from the authorities of several States. So, the foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas on Friday called on the EU to develop a unified response against China, which would provide for the readiness both to dialogue and to upholding the common European principles. “We cannot undermine the significant degree of autonomy of Hong Kong. We expect to be respected freedoms and rights of citizens, which provide Basic law and the principle of “one country, two systems”. The law on national security should not be put into question these principles,” he said. While Heiko Maas evaded a direct answer to the question about the possibility of sanctions against China. “The past has shown that it is primarily an important dialogue with China,” said he.The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell lastfirst meetings of the foreign Ministers of EU countries expressed more clearly: “Only one country (of the 27 members of the EU.— “B”) raised the issue of sanctions. I think that sanctions are not a way of solving our problems with China.” While the EU was limited to the statement, which referred to “serious concern in connection with the steps taken by China”.Meanwhile, the UK authorities have already developed practical steps to support the Hong Kong residents. “Holders of British passports (from Hong Kong.— “B”) is allowed to come to Britain for six months. If China will continue to adhere to the chosen policy, we will cancel the six-month limit and allowed to come to Britain to work or study 12 months with the possibility of renewal. This will allow them (the residents of Hong Kong.— “B”) in the future to obtain citizenship,”— said on Thursday the foreign Minister of the United Kingdom Dominic Raab. Before the transfer of Hong Kong its residents could obtain the status of British citizens residing in overseas territories, as well as a special passport, which said Mr. Raab. Such documents have about 300 million of the 7.4 million inhabitants of Hong Kong.All these statements evoke an angry reaction from Beijing. So, the official representative of the Chinese foreign Ministry Zhao Lijiang on Friday said: “China hopes that Britain will objectively and fairly consider the bill on national security in Hong Kong, and will also respect the position and concern of China and will not interfere in the Affairs of Hong Kong.” According to him if London will do exactly what he was talking about Dominic Raab, that would be a violation of international law and will inevitably lead to retaliation from China. The same in Beijing and threaten Washington. “If the US intervention continues, China will take all necessary countermeasures. We urge the States to immediately stop the political manipulation on Hong Kong,” said Zhao Lijiang, simultaneously expressing protest in connection with the adoption in the House of representatives of Congress of a bill providing for sanctions against China for violations of the rights of the Uighurs.Against this background, it became known that the U.S. and Britain requested an open meeting of the UN security Council on the subject of Hong Kong. However, the initiative was blocked by China and Russia, which authorities also believe the ongoing intervention in the internal Affairs of China. As stated earlier, Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the pressure now is on Beijing, is truly unprecedented.Paul Tarasenko
