U.S. condemns China’s repression in Hong Kong

The departments of Treasury, State, Commerce, and Homeland Security issued a nine-page warning to U.S. companies about the risks of conducting business with Hong Kong. The document noted possible electronic surveillance, lack of data privacy, legal risks, and damage to companies’ reputations. On Friday, the United States imposed sanctions against seven Chinese officials and against companies in China’s northwest Xinjiang province, where the government is accused of persecuting Uyghurs and other minorities.

What prompted the move? President Joe Biden on Thursday accused China of breaking its promise to preserve Hong Kong’s autonomy. Beijing has systematically suppressed political criticism, shutting down the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and arresting dissenters under its broad national security law. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the United States should “stop meddling” in Hong Kong and Chinese affairs.

Dig deeper: Read Erica Kwong’s report on Beijing’s suppression of the free press in Hong Kong.