Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zheng Zheguang summoned US Charge d’Affaires to the PRC Robert Forden to protest against the imposition of sanctions against 14 members of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress over Hong Kong.
“Over a period of time, the United States has used various techniques to interfere in Hong Kong affairs under the pretext of protecting democracy, human rights and Hong Kong autonomy, encouraging and supporting criminal acts, including separatism and disorderly conduct, and imposing so-called sanctions against officials of central government of China and the government of Hong Kong”, – said Zheng Zeguang, quoted on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
According to him, “all this proves that the United States is the biggest behind-the-scenes manipulator of the recent unrest in Hong Kong”.
He stressed that the Chinese government is unwavering in its determination to resist outside interference in Hong Kong affairs, as well as in its determination to implement the “one country, two systems” policy, to protect the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
“In response to US sanctions, China will take equivalent countermeasures and will continue to take all necessary measures to protect the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests. China advises the United States to immediately correct its mistakes, cancel the corresponding decision, stop interfering in Hong Kong and China’s internal affairs, otherwise all responsibility for the grave consequences will lie solely with the American side”, – he said.