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Trump ‘Stands With Xi’ (and With Hong Kong’s Protesters) Trump ‘Stands With Xi’ (and With Hong Kong’s Protesters)
(32 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump claimed in a Fox News interview on Friday that China’s government would have “obliterated” Hong Kong and killed “thousands” of people there were it not for him. WASHINGTON — President Trump would not commit Friday to signing legislation overwhelmingly passed by Congress to support pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong in an interview on Fox News.
But Mr. Trump would not commit to signing legislation overwhelmingly passed by Congress this week that would impose sanctions on Chinese officials who commit human rights abuses in the semiautonomous island territory and place Hong Kong’s special economic status under greater scrutiny. He also claimed that China’s government would have “obliterated” Hong Kong and killed “thousands” of people there were it not for him.
And he spoke warmly about China’s president, Xi Jinping, whom he is trying to coax into striking a trade deal that has become one of the central goals of his presidency.And he spoke warmly about China’s president, Xi Jinping, whom he is trying to coax into striking a trade deal that has become one of the central goals of his presidency.
“We have to stand with Hong Kong, but I’m also standing with President Xi,” Mr. Trump said during a nearly hour long interview on the morning program “Fox & Friends.” “He is a friend of mine. He is an incredible guy.“We have to stand with Hong Kong, but I’m also standing with President Xi,” Mr. Trump said during a nearly hour long interview on the morning program “Fox & Friends.” “He is a friend of mine. He is an incredible guy.
But he added: “I stand with Hong Kong. I stand with freedom. I stand with all of the things we want to do. But we’re also in the process of making the largest trade deal in history.”But he added: “I stand with Hong Kong. I stand with freedom. I stand with all of the things we want to do. But we’re also in the process of making the largest trade deal in history.”
The legislation approved by Congress this week would impose sanctions on Chinese officials who commit human rights abuses in the semiautonomous island territory and place Hong Kong’s special economic status under greater scrutiny.
Security forces in Hong Kong have escalated their crackdown on pro-democracy protesters this month, prompting Congress to approve a Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act it had been considering for months.Security forces in Hong Kong have escalated their crackdown on pro-democracy protesters this month, prompting Congress to approve a Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act it had been considering for months.
In the interview, Mr. Trump said that the protests were a complicating factor in his trade negotiations with Beijing, which have stalled ahead of an important Dec. 15 deadline, when Mr. Trump must decide whether to renew some of his tariffs on Chinese goods. In the interview, Mr. Trump said that the protests were a complicating factor in his trade negotiations with Beijing, which have stalled ahead of an important Dec. 15 deadline, when Mr. Trump must decide whether to issue yet more tariffs on Chinese goods.
But he also took credit for the fact that China had not extinguished the protests with a sweeping and violent crackdown.But he also took credit for the fact that China had not extinguished the protests with a sweeping and violent crackdown.
“If it weren’t for me, Hong Kong would have been obliterated in 14 minutes,” Mr. Trump said.“If it weren’t for me, Hong Kong would have been obliterated in 14 minutes,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump and other administration officials have warned that an overwhelming Chinese response would have wider repercussions in the relationship between China and Beijing, including in the trade talks.Mr. Trump and other administration officials have warned that an overwhelming Chinese response would have wider repercussions in the relationship between China and Beijing, including in the trade talks.
But analysts say there are many reasons China’s government has refrained from an all-out violent crackdown like the one that snuffed pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989. They include the risk of an enormous international backlash and lasting damage to Hong Kong’s powerhouse economy.But analysts say there are many reasons China’s government has refrained from an all-out violent crackdown like the one that snuffed pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989. They include the risk of an enormous international backlash and lasting damage to Hong Kong’s powerhouse economy.
Congress passed its Hong Kong bill with an overwhelming majority, meaning that it could probably override a presidential veto easily, the first override of his presidency. Mr. Trump could also choose not to sign the bill without vetoing it, in which case it would also become law.Congress passed its Hong Kong bill with an overwhelming majority, meaning that it could probably override a presidential veto easily, the first override of his presidency. Mr. Trump could also choose not to sign the bill without vetoing it, in which case it would also become law.