The US House of Representatives passed two bills supporting Hong Kong protesters and warning China of human rights abuses. The bills were nearly unanimously passed and have been sent to President Trump to be signed into law. Five months of protests in Hong Kong and an increasing police crackdown throughout the region have raised concerns regarding Beijing's infringement on Hong Kong’s relative freedoms and autonomy. The “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act” would put Hong Kong under further scrutiny regarding its autonomy from Beijing. The second bill would ban the export of certain crowd control munitions to Hong Kong authorities.
Beijing has largely criticized the advancement of the bills, denouncing them as interference in China’s political matters, and claiming it to be a breach of international law. Tensions between the US and China are likely to escalate, casting a shadow over attempts to quell the trade war. Nonetheless, Hong Kong welcomes the bills, although the legislation is more a symbolic demonstration of support than anything else.
