China Pauses Review of US Requests to Send Military Ships to Hong Kong

China's Foreign Ministry on Monday said the country is suspending its review of requests made by US military ships and aircraft to visit Hong Kong, state media reported.

According to Reuters, China also sanctioned New York-based NGO Human Rights Watch "for supporting extremist, violent activities in Hong Kong."

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Friday that China would "take strong counter-measures" in response to the bill's signing.

The move was made in response to legislation passed by President Donald Trump supporting human rights in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was introduced in May by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, requires the State Department to ensure that Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" agreement with China is upheld each year for the US government to continue to afford Hong Kong with a special trade status.

It would also consider sanctions against people involved in human rights abuses against Hong Kong citizens and would ensure visa protections for Hong Kong protesters in the US.

The president also signed a bill introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon that prohibits US exports of specified police equipment to Hong Kong.

Trump's reluctant signage of the bills comes after both the House and the Senate passed two versions of the Hong Kong human rights bill last month with overwhelming support.

A source close to Trump's negotiating team told Axios on Sunday that Trump's signing of the bill "stalled" trade deal talks with China. The source added that the US and China may not sign a "phase-one" trade deal until the "year-end at the earliest."

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