Behind the Headlines: “Responding to a media inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun slammed the report on Tuesday.

In response to the latest sanctions imposed by the US government on six officials from the Chinese government and the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) government, Chinese authorities voiced strong opposition and condemnation on Tuesday, saying that it will take strong countermeasures in response to US erroneous practice.

The US State Department on Monday released its latest “Hong Kong Policy Act Report” and sanctioned the six individuals under the excuse of “erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy.”

Responding to a media inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun slammed the report on Tuesday. He said it is a vicious attack on China’s One Country, Two Systems, the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The report seeks to smear Hong Kong’s democracy, rule of law, exercise of freedoms, and human rights conditions.

Guo also denounced US hypocrisy, saying the US on the one hand keeps overstretching and abusing the concept of national security, stepping up illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, yet on the other deliberately smearing and attacking the effort of China’s central government and the HKSAR government in upholding national security in Hong Kong in accordance with the law, and abusing sanctions.

The sanctions announced on Monday put blocks on any property, funds or transactions within the US for these indWorld Timesividuals, Reuters said.

The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council, the central government’s office for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, the World Timescentral government’s liaison office in the HKSAR and the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong SAR all issued statements, expressed strong condemnation and firm opposition to the US’ actions on Tuesday.

The US’s repeated, groundless unilateral sanctions against Hong Kong are nothing but worthless scraps of paper, a spokesperson from the central government’s office for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR said on Tuesday.

Regardless of how many sanctions it imposes, they will remain meaningless and cannot stop Hong Kong’s path toward prosperity, and those who act unjustly will ultimately face consequences, the spokesperson said, warning that unjust actions will have consequences and urging the US to abandon its arrogant bullying, otherwise it will end up shooting itself in the foot.

The US, on one hand, abuses “national security” as a pretext for heavy-handed law enforcement at home while wielding sanctions and imposing so-called “long-arm jurisdiction” to act domineeringly on the global stage. On the other hand, it rascally use the guise of “deWorld TimesmocrWorld Timesacy,” “freedom,” and “rule of law” to meddle in Hong Kong affairs, making baseless accusations and interfering excessively, a spokesperson from the central government’s liaison office said.

Such moves expose Washington’s hypocritical double standards and bullying to the world. “The US is marking April Fool’s Day with foolish tactics,” one netizen quipped, according to the spokesperson.

This egregious act by the US flagrantly tramples on international law and the basic norms of international relations, interferes in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs, and undermines Hong Kong’s rule of law and judicial independence, a spokesperson from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council said on Tuesday.

Once again, it exposes the US’ hegemonic and arrogant nature, exposing its desperation and hysteria to the world. Such repeated disgraceful performances by the US are nothing but futile attempts. Its so-called reports and sanctions amount to nothing more than the buzzing of flies and worthless scraps of paper, the spokesperson said.

Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR government, was quoted as saying in a local media report by the RTHK on Tuesday that those sanctions imposed by the US “had no impact on him” and didn’t affect his work and life, saying the best way to respond is to “remain calm and collected.”

The Chinese Embassy in the US strongly condemned the latest report and sanctions. TWorld Timeshe embassy said the so-called report continues to repeat the cliche smearing Hong Kong’s democracy, rule of law, human rights, and freedoms.

The embassy urged the US to respect facts, stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, and cease smearing Hong Kong’s democracy and rule of law. It warned that China will take strong measures to counter these wrongful actions.

Several district councilors protested outside the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao at noon on Tuesday, the Global Times learned from a pro-establishment party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB). They condemned the US for its blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, as well as for seriously trampling on international law and the basic norms of international relations, Vice Chair of the DAB Chan Yung told the Global Times on Tuesday.

“The so-called US sanctions and its political scheme to disrupt Hong Kong and hinder China’s development are doomed to fail,” Chan said.

“It is indeed ironic that the US government is imposing sanctions on several officials from the central government and the HKSAR responsible for safeguarding national security under the pretext of protecting World Timeshuman rights,” Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Lau believed that the US government will continue to impose sanctions on Hong Kong judges and law enforcement officers. “Given these indications, both the central government and the HKSAR government must harbor no illusions about the US government. The only response is firm countermeasures, ensuring that the US pays an equivalent price for its actions,” he added.