China hits back at US sanctions threat

China's Foreign Ministry on Saturday denounced and opposed the so-called Hong Kong Business Advisory issued by the United States government, and sanctions against Chinese officials, vowing to play along every step of the way until the very end if the US is bent on continuing with such tricks.

The sanctions were imposed on seven officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong.

The US move violated international law and basic norms governing international relations, and interfered in China's internal affairs, a spokesperson from the ministry said in a statement.

Since the implementation of the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, social stability has been restored in Hong Kong, rule of law has been upheld, and development has been resumed on the right track, the spokesperson added.

Hong Kong residents exercise rights and freedoms in accordance with law, and foreign investors enjoy a business environment with improved safety, stability and predictability, said the spokesperson.

Recent media reports have shown widespread objection to the US government's issuance of the so-called business advisory, the spokesperson also said.

However, the US government, turning a blind eye to facts and a deaf ear to the business community's call, attempts to use the so-called business advisory to cast a pall over Hong Kong's prospects and intimidate foreign investors in Hong Kong, the spokesperson continued.

This once again exposed the sinister intention of the US to undermine Hong Kong's stability and prosperity, meddle in China's domestic affairs, and thwart China's development, and such a conspiracy will get nowhere, the spokesperson said.

The so-called sanctions imposed by the US are nothing more than a waste of paper and it is simply delusional to believe that China will bow to sanctions, the spokesperson noted.

The spokesperson said that China has been fighting resolutely against the so-called maximum pressure by the US with strong countermeasures over the past few years.

Hong Kong is part of China and its affairs are purely China's domestic affairs, and external forces that attempt to meddle in Hong Kong affairs will find themselves in a situation like tiny ants that try to shake a mighty tree, the spokesperson stressed.

China urges the US to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs immediately, the spokesperson said, adding that the country will take all measures necessary in accordance with law to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests.