THE Republican-controlled US Senate has unanimously passed a bill to impose sanctions on Chinese officials who threaten Hong Kong's autonomy, as well as the banks and firms that do business with them, sending the legislation to the president's desk, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The bill was also passed in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives the day before as thousands of protesters took to the streets in Hong Kong to object to a new law that gives Beijing stronger powers to police the former British colony and punish those accused of subversion and separatism. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Lawmakers said the legislation moved faster through Congress than expected. 'I hope that President Trump will sign this immediately,' said Maryland Democrat Senator Van Hollen.
'As a country, Republicans and Democrats need to send a strong signal that we will not stand for the actions of Beijing undermining their own agreements, agreements under international law which they are bound to,' he said.
SeaNews Turkey
The bill was also passed in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives the day before as thousands of protesters took to the streets in Hong Kong to object to a new law that gives Beijing stronger powers to police the former British colony and punish those accused of subversion and separatism. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
Lawmakers said the legislation moved faster through Congress than expected. 'I hope that President Trump will sign this immediately,' said Maryland Democrat Senator Van Hollen.
'As a country, Republicans and Democrats need to send a strong signal that we will not stand for the actions of Beijing undermining their own agreements, agreements under international law which they are bound to,' he said.
SeaNews Turkey