U.S. President Signs Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

in hongkong •  5 years ago  (edited)

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Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a law on Wednesday November 26th, 2019, which supports Hong Kong's months-long protest movement. This is seen as a moral victory for anti-government demonstrators in the semi-autonomous Chinese city of Hong Kong.

The new law will require the US to annually confirm that Hong Kong's special freedoms are being maintained by Beijing -- failure to do so could result in Washington withdrawing the city's special status, a massive blow to the Hong Kong economy.

The bill also lays out a process for the President to impose sanctions and travel restrictions on those who are found to be knowingly responsible for arbitrary detention, torture and forced confession of any individual in Hong Kong, or other violations of internationally recognized human rights in the Asian financial hub.

In a personal signing statement, U. S. President Donald Trump is quoted as saying;

I have signed the bills "out of respect for President Xi (Jinping), China, and the people of Hong Kong.

“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."

The U.S. Congress, which is often divided along party lines was remarkably united in the condemnation of human rights abuses and the use of economic sanctions to pressure the governments of Hong Kong and China.

This posted tweeted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/shortsegments/status/1200699381256605696

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The pen is mightier than the sword.

Wow. The U.S. is risking the ire of China with this law.

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I have mixed feelings about this law. I don’t think America should make laws regarding other countries, but Zi understand why the people of Hong Kong interest Americans. I wish there were other ways to influence governments behind the scene. This causes China to lose face and that’s never a good way to influence people. It can make them cling more stubbornly yo their course of action even if they were about to change directions, now they can’t change without appearing weak. It’s a difficult situation but diplomacy sometimes calls for no direct support of general ideas about human rights and sovereignty combined with private talks chastising a government for bad behavior to give them the chance to change their behavior and still appear strong. The West seems to still know little about conducting respectful diplomacy in the newspapers and honest diplomacy in private. Things could be so different and they could be so much more effective by choosing not to embarrass or bully other governments. And effectiveness should be the bottom line.

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!giphy brave + law

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giphy is supported by witness untersatz!

!giphy human+rights

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giphy is supported by witness untersatz!

Impressive essay. Diplomacy is best.

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War is the ultimate failure of reason.

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