July 8, 2021—President Joe Biden today extended the national emergency declared related to how China is governing Hong Kong. Continuing crackdowns by Beijing against pro-democracy advocates and media underline Biden’s decision.
“The situation with respect to Hong Kong, including recent actions taken by the People’s Republic of China to fundamentally undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” the extension stated.
The order led to sanctions against individuals involved in the clampdown, including the freezing of economic assets in the U.S. and barring them from entering the country. Biden’s move continues for one year President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 13936 of 2020.
China Reacts
China responded immediately. In an editorial timestamped 12:29 a.m. July 9, 2021, the government responded through the state-run media agency Global Times, the government said whoever sanctions China will “receive relentless retaliation.” The editorial went on to say, “Issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang are China’s internal affairs. China rejects the requests from the US and the West, and does not hesitate to engage in fierce confrontations with them in this regard.”
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