US' HK smears and sanctions face-saving move: China Daily editorial

The recent actions taken by the United States against Chinese officials related to Hong Kong, coupled with the issuance of the "2025 Hong Kong Policy Act Report", once again highlight the reason why there are ongoing tensions between the two countries.

The US government's move to sanction six officials under the guise of "transnational repression" and alleged threats to US interests in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a clear example of its political posturing and interference in China's internal affairs.

The US State Department's accusations of the central government and SAR government officials using national security laws "extraterritorially to intimidate, silence, and harass 19 pro-democracy activists who were forced to flee overseas, including a US citizen and four other US residents" have been met with a strong rebuttal from the Chinese embassy in the US. The embassy also denounced the report for smearing Hong Kong's democracy, rule of law, human rights and freedoms with false accusations.

The report and sanctions are clearly an unjustifiable intrusion into China's sovereignty and a blatant violation of international norms.

The SAR government's efforts to address the challenges faced in 2019 and strengthen its legislative framework have served to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining stability and security in the SAR. The so-called "pro-democracy activists" championed by the US were radical elements whose actions posed a threat to national security.

The Hong Kong government acted firmly to maintain order and uphold national security since the enforcement of the National Security Law for Hong Kong in 2020 in response to the activities of the anti-China elements in the SAR. The SAR police's actions against these anti-China agitators and the impartial trials subsequently conducted by judicial authorities have been in full accord with legal procedures and have been imperative to safeguard the SAR's stability and prosperity.

Since the Chinese central government resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, it has fully, faithfully and firmly implemented the principles of "one country, two systems" with Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy.

The US' continued attempts to undermine Hong Kong's progress and stability through sanctions and groundless accusations are nothing but a desperate ploy to advance its own agenda. In doing so, it is the one denying Hong Kong the high degree of autonomy it enjoys under the framework of "one country, two systems". It is evident that the US' motivations in smearing the actions of the Hong Kong authorities are driven by its own strategic interests rather than genuine concerns for the well-being of the SAR and its residents. Its series of sanctions and incessant criticisms are intended to undermine the progress made by the SAR in upholding security, democracy and the rights of its people.

The actions the Hong Kong government has taken are legitimate steps to maintain order and uphold national security. Since the enactment and implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the SAR has restored order and it once again enjoys promising prospects for development, as evidenced by the all-time high in the number of registrations of non-Hong Kong companies. The reason why the US administration is still trying to play the "Hong Kong card" is that it knows that it will have no chance to realize its scheme of turning the city into a bridgehead for nationwide disruption if the SAR is able to maintain peace and stability.

It was the chaos and turmoil that the US sponsored in the SAR over the past years that prompted the introduction of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the plugging of the loopholes in the SAR's legal and governance systems. Now the US is trying to protect its proxies who have fled the SAR where there is no longer any space for their subversive activities, which they vainly persist with overseas.

The US should respect the fact that Hong Kong is part of China, and its affairs are purely China's internal affairs. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes any meddling in its affairs, and it will take countermeasures to protect its sovereignty, and core national interests.