China’s fury over President Donald Trump’s decision to sign legislation supporting human rights in Hong Kong is evident.
Protester holds U.S. flags during a demonstration in Hong Kong, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019.
Hong Kong, a former British colony that was granted semi-autonomy when China took control in 1997, has been rocked by six months of sometimes violent pro-democracy demonstrations.
“I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong,” Trump said in a statement.
He suggested Hong Kong was being used as a “proxy” for China and the legislation was a way to hit back at Beijing.
Associated Press writers Eileen Ng in Hong Kong and Elaine Kurtenbach in Beijing contributed to this report. »