Beijing expels US ships, NGO in HK
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:18:38 +0000
BEIJING: The Chinese government has decided to suspend reviewing applications to visit Hong Kong by United States military ships and aircraft starting Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said.
China will also take sanctions against some US nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for their role in the disturbances in Hong Kong, Hua said at a press conference.
So far, two US Navy frigates have been told to leave while a Peace Corps-aligned NGO was also given notice to vacate its posts in the island-state.
“In response to the unreasonable behavior of the US side, the Chinese government has decided to suspend reviewing the applications for US warships to go to Hong Kong for [rest and] recuperation as of today,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing.
Earlier, China had already denied requests for two US Navy ships to dock in Hong Kong in August, without specifying a reason why.
Hua said they would also apply sanctions to a number of US-based NGOs, although failed to give any specifics over the form sanctions would take.
Sanctions would apply to NGOs that had acted “badly” over the recent unrest in Hong Kong, she said, including the National Endowment for Democracy, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House.
There was “already a large amount of facts and evidence that make it clear that these non-governmental organisations support anti-China” forces and “incite separatist activities for Hong Kong independence,” Hua added.
The NGOs include the National Endowment for Democracy, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, International Republican Institute, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House.
A lot of facts and evidence have shown that the aforementioned NGOs supported anti-China rioters in Hong Kong in various ways, abetted their extreme and violent criminal behavior and incited separatist activities for “Hong Kong independence,” Hua said, adding that these organizations bear major responsibilities for Hong Kong’s chaotic situation and should be sanctioned and pay their price.
The spokesman said the United States had seriously violated the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and interfered in China’s internal affairs by signing the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 into law despite China’s firm opposition.
“China urges the US to correct its mistake and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs or interfering in China’s other internal affairs by any word and act,” Hua said.
China will take further necessary actions in accordance with the development of the situation to firmly defend the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, she said.
XINHUA/AFP