China Sanctions to Come into Effect Against US Human Rights Watch For Backing Violence in Hong Kong

China is introducing sanctions against a number of US non-governmental organisations, including Human Rights Watch in retaliation for a US bill banning the export of crowd control weapons to Hong Kong police and supporting demonstrators in the city, the country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

"Recently, the United States passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, ignoring China's protest on the matter. This is a serious violation of international law and basic principles of international relations, as well as interference in China's internal affairs. Beijing has already lodged a protest with the United States over the matter. This time, China has decided to introduce sanctions on several US non-governmental organisations, including NDI [National Democratic Institute], Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House”, spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

The Foreign Ministry added that China had suspended a review of a request for visits by US naval vessels and aircraft to the territory. Asked when Beijing would resume its review of such requests, Hua said that it would "depend of further steps by the US".

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 and another law prohibiting US exports of specified police equipment to Hong Kong. The acts amended existing legislation to allow for the possibility of sanctions on human rights offenders in China's special administrative region and an annual assessment of the developments there to determine the level of Hong Kong’s autonomy from China — the US treats Hong Kong as a separate trade entity and therefore must ensure that the city retains its autonomy.