Trump signs Rubio’s Hong Kong bill, setting up a showdown with China
President Donald Trump signed a bill into law on Wednesday that sanctions Chinese officials over the communist party’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, amid fresh warnings from Beijing against American “interference” in its internal affairs.
The legislation titled the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act was drafted by Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and earned overwhelming bipartisan support Congress, forcing the president to choose between signing it or challenging lawmakers to override a veto.
“Earlier this month, in an overwhelming display of bipartisan unity, Congress passed our Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, and I applaud President Trump for signing this critical legislation into law,” Rubio said. “The U.S. now has new and meaningful tools to deter further influence and interference from Beijing into Hong Kong’s internal affairs.”
Trump has been careful on the protest movement over five months of growing unrest, hoping not to ostracize Beijing as he pursues a trade deal with the United States’ chief economic rival.
In a statement, the White House said certain portions of the bill would “interfere with the exercise of the President’s constitutional authority to state the foreign policy of the United States.” Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed retaliation.
Trump also signed a bill authored by Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, that prohibits the commercial export of munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.
“I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong,” Trump said in a statement. “They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all.”
Despite reservations over constitutional authority, Trump signed the bill into law as the House and Senate would be able to override any veto.
Other administration officials have hardened their rhetoric toward China in recent weeks.
“The United States continues to support democratic values, fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong as guaranteed by the ‘one country, two systems’ framework, and aspirations of the Hong Kong people,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday, congratulating residents for choosing pro-democracy officials in district council elections this week that caught Beijing off-guard.
Chinese officials warned the United Kingdom and the United States last week against engaging in “external interference in Hong Kong affairs,” and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the U.S. ambassador there to warn the Trump administration against signing the bill.
The new law will levy sanctions against Chinese individuals involved in undermining the protesters, and will put the quasi city-state’s special trade relationship with the United States up for review.
Rubio’s bill passed the Senate last week in a fast-tracked process called unanimous consent. Senators from both parties argued that inaction was unacceptable after Hong Kong police began shooting at pro-democracy protesters with live ammunition for the first time.
The House passed an identical version of the Senate bill shortly afterward.
Rubio also said the bill gains additional importance after this week’s local elections in Hong Kong, where voters elected pro-democracy candidates in a rebuke to China.
“Following last weekend’s historic elections in Hong Kong that included record turnout, this new law could not be more timely in showing strong U.S. support for Hong Kongers’ long-cherished freedoms,” Rubio said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the administration to implement this law.”
