Attempts to contain China's development using the HK issue will fail

Editor's note: The following article is taken from the Chinese-language "Commentaries on International Affairs." The article does not necessarily reflect the views of CGTN.

The United States Congress is attempting to interfere in China's internal affairs by passing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The legislation is a blatant endorsement of the actions of violent rioters in the city, and showcases the attempt by American politicians to instigate a "color revolution" in the special administrative region in order to contain China's development.

Since control over Hong Kong was handed back to China 22 years ago, the "One country, Two systems" principle has been successfully implemented, and Hong Kong has been ranked among the best places in the world to live on many measures, including economic competitiveness and freedom. However, the recent widespread unrest has seriously hurt Hong Kong's economy and the welfare of its people.

Hong Kong's GDP shrank by 2.9 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of this year, the first year-on-year contraction for an individual quarter since 2009. Its GDP was also down 3.2 percent in the same period on a quarter-to-quarter comparison, and the commerce and tourism sectors saw heavy losses. It's no surprise, then, that most of the residents of Hong Kong agree that stopping the violence and restoring social order are the most pressing tasks for the city. Despite this, Washington has chosen to meddle in the affairs of Hong Kong with a bill that encourages the perpetuation of the chaos.

By fueling further unrest, the United States is not only undermining the interests of the people of Hong Kong, but also their own interests and those of the many other countries that do business with the city. Hong Kong is an important channel for many countries to enter the markets in China and the Asia-Pacific. It's home to the regional headquarters of over 3,700 global enterprises, of which the largest single share – 20 percent – belong to American firms. Over the past 10 years, the United States has enjoyed the largest bilateral trade surplus with Hong Kong among its other trade partners. This surplus exceeded 33 billion U.S. dollars last year. The global economy faces increasing downward pressure and falling confidence, but lawmakers in Washington have set aside the interests of both American enterprises and global multinationals by threatening to do what it can to disrupt business in the city.

China's central government will continue to support Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam. It will also continue to back the city's government, its police, and its courts, as they seek to defend the rule of law and bring to justice the individuals who have thrown the city into chaos with acts of assault, vandalism, and rioting.

The affairs of Hong Kong are China's domestic affairs and the central government will, under no circumstances, permit external forces to meddle in its affairs. The American politicians who believe they can profit from the turmoil in Hong Kong are going to end up being sorely disappointed. If the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act becomes law, China will take firm countermeasures in response and these politicians will be responsible for the consequences.