Analysis: "Tactical evasion to sign the law the night before Thanksgiving"

Just over a week ago, the first US Democrat-led House of Representatives and then the Republican-run Senate voted through “S. 1838 ”which aims to support human rights and democracy in Hong Kong in several ways.

The fact that both parties in the Senate voted unanimously made it almost impossible for the president to stop the law and late Wednesday he signed.

The law stipulates that those who violate human rights, or undermine Hong Kong independence, are at risk of sanctions from the United States, which can once a year evaluate Hong Kong's special trade status under US law.

Alongside this, the sale of tear gas and rubber bullets to the Hong Kong police is prohibited, something they have used extensively in connection with the recent months' demonstrations.

China claims to be "deeply disappointed" at Trump for signing the law. Many discussions are about how this will affect the ongoing trade war between the countries: the next deadline in the talks to reach a trade agreement is December 15.

Until now, President Trump has been silent about markings against China for not infringing on Hong Kong self-government. In a telephone conversation with President Xi, Trump, according to the New York Times, should have promised not to speak publicly about the escalating situation in Hong Kong and in the United States, discussions are going hot about what the new law actually means in practice. Fox News TV channel says that the president was waiting for the last, and that as late as the day before, Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo refused to comment on which way the president stood on the issue.

The Washington Post writes that "there are no indications that President Trump plans to act on the new law in the near future." The Wall Street Journal writes that "President Trump signed on to not seem weak at home, but chose the night before Thanksgiving not to make a big deal of it."

The New York Times magazine is on the same line, citing a university professor who says this was a way for the president to show strength at home, but that "the real issue will be to see how the president will use the new law."

And from the president's own words to judge, there seems to be no major change going on.

In a statement in connection with the signing, President Trump said he signed the law "out of respect for President Xi and for the people of Hong Kong".

Two total counterpoints.