US long-arm meddling in Hong Kong sends wrong signals condoning violence

As expected, the US president signed into law legislation in support of those trying to create chaos in Hong Kong. His administration had already politicized the unrest in the special administrative region as part of its efforts to contain China and put pressure on Beijing, so it would have been a surprise if he had chosen to forego the opportunity to ratchet up the "maximum pressure" that was handed to him on a plate by Congress.

But even if the US leader had not given the two bills his endorsement, they would automatically have become law on Dec 3, as they were unanimously passed by the Senate and approved by all but one lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

The so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act requires the State Department to certify, at least annually, that the city has enough autonomy to justify favorable US trading policies, and threatens sanctions on anyone the US decides is guilty of human rights violations in the city. That this has been generally taken to mean Chinese officials highlights the prejudiced perspective behind the bills.