President Trump says he will take measures against China this week, following Beijing’s dealings with Hong Kong. Trump did not say what steps he wants to take and later explains.
On Thursday, the Chinese parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC), will consider a bill to intervene more directly in serious security issues in Hong Kong.
Autonomous Hong Kong is part of China but has its own government and a Western-style legal system. Beijing wants to be able to intervene directly in response to the increasingly radical anti-Chinese mood in Hong Kong.
In China, the judiciary is not independent, and the authorities prosecute the opposition. They could therefore also do that in Hong Kong through the bill.
The plan is seen by many to undermine Hong Kong’s special status through the back door. Beijing could prosecute the opposition or protest movement with its own agents in a specially set up security device in Hong Kong.
This should include fighting all kinds of “terrorist activities” if “national security” is compromised.