Senate approves bill to defend Hong Kong's autonomy, sanction Chinese officials

The Senate approved legislation Thursday aiming to defend Hong Kong's autonomy by slapping sanctions on Chinese officials involved in encroaching on the territory's autonomy and sanctioning institutions such as banks that engage in business with those officials.

The legislative body approved the bipartisan bill by unanimous consent as no lawmakers objected and it passed via voice vote. The legislation is sponsored by Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the sponsors say that the legislation comes as new national security laws in Hong Kong threaten the area's autonomy as China seeks to squelch pro-democracy protests.

"It requires the administration to identify all those individuals who are culpable and complicit in taking away the rights of the people in Hong Kong,” Van Hollen said. “And more than that, would sanction those banks that allow those individuals to do business.” 

One of the areas of concern the Trump administration has regarding the legislation is a portion permitting Congress, through approving a two-thirds majority joint resolution of disapproval in both chambers, to go over the president's head if he chooses to, as the Journal put it, "waive or terminate sanctions."

Van Hollen said that the Trump administration “currently has authority to impose sanctions against China for its actions in Hong Kong based on legislation that this body passed last year to uphold the voice of human rights and democratic rights for the people of Hong Kong.”  

“Despite some statements from the Secretary of State, the administration has still taken no action,” the senator said.