Congress sends Hong Kong bill to Trump as China escalates threat
WASHINGTON _ The U.S. Congress overwhelmingly voted to send a bill supporting Hong Kong protesters to President Donald Trump, setting up a confrontation with China that could imperil a long-awaited trade deal between the world's two largest economies.
The bill, approved unanimously by the Senate Tuesday, passed the House 417-1 on Wednesday and could go to Trump as soon as Thursday to be vetoed or signed into law, according to a congressional aide. The White House declined to comment on whether Trump will sign the legislation.
"The Congress is sending an unmistakable message to the world that the United States stands in solidarity with freedom-loving people of Hong Kong and that we fully support their fight for freedom," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on the House floor. "This has been a very unifying issue for us."
The remarkable bipartisan support for taking a tough stance with China creates one of the toughest economic and foreign policy challenges of Trump's presidency. He desperately needs the China trade deal _ and the economic bump from resolving that uncertainty _ as he ramps up his campaign for re-election. But going against the will of Congress presents its own challenges as Trump faces impeachment in the House.
The bill would require annual reviews of Hong Kong's special status under U.S. law and sanction officials deemed responsible for human rights abuses and undermining the city's autonomy.
Trump has been silent as the Hong Kong protests escalated into violence in recent weeks, even as lawmakers of both parties demanded action on the measure.
_Bloomberg News
