US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will begin abolishing trade exemptions granted to Hong Kong, describing the recent Chinese move in this city as a "tragedy" for the world.
On Friday, Beijing accused Washington of taking the UN Security Council "hostage" over the controversial Chinese bill on national security in Hong Kong, and called on Western countries not to interfere.
"Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently self-governing to justify the special treatment we have been giving it since it was returned," Trump said.
"Therefore, I ask my administration to launch the process of ending exemptions that allow Hong Kong to receive different and special treatment," he added.
"The Chinese government's move against Hong Kong is the latest in a series of measures that alleviate the city's long-standing status. It is a tragedy for Hong Kong residents, the people of China and of course the people of the world as well," Trump said.
China warns
On the other hand, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Jang Jun warned during an unofficial video session of the UN Security Council on Friday that any "attempt to use Hong Kong to interfere in China's internal affairs is doomed to failure."
The diplomat urged, during this session, which was held at the request of Washington and London, "the United States and Britain to stop making baseless accusations against China," according to a statement of the Chinese diplomatic mission.
Beijing is pushing for a "national security" bill in Hong Kong that punishes "terrorist" separatist activities, a rebellion against state power and foreign interference in the semi-autonomous region of China.
The bill comes after mass demonstrations in Hong Kong in 2019 against the influence of Beijing, characterized by violence and reinforced an opposition current that was marginalized in the past.
private situation
The United States and Britain had earlier urged China to consider the "legitimate concern" associated with the situation in Hong Kong.
"This bill can restrict the freedoms that China has pledged to respect under international law," said current British Ambassador to the United Nations, Jonathan Allen.
"If implemented, it will exacerbate the deep divisions in Hong Kong society," he added.
Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong, the former British colony, has broad independence, freedom of expression and an independent judiciary since its return to China in 1997.
The United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia are leading the campaign against the bill that punishes "terrorist" separatist activities, a rebellion against state authority, and foreign interference in the region.
These countries see these legal amendments as a convincing way to silence the opposition in Hong Kong and restrict freedom, which China flatly denies.
Trump recently signed a decree suspending the entry of Chinese "some citizens" to the United States, referring to students he described as a "potential threat" to US national security, indicating that he wanted to ensure the security of the country's "vital" university research.
"Years ago, the Chinese government spied to steal our industrial secrets," he said.
The Institute of International Education said that the Chinese make up the largest number of foreign students studying in the United States, and that they numbered around 370,000 in 2018-2019, almost a third of international students.