China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on December 2, that China would suspend reviewing applications for US warships and aircraft to make port calls in Hong Kong and will impose sanctions on five NGOs, including the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Human Rights Watch. These measures, the first wave of countermeasures against the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act," will have a real impact on related departments and organizations. It said the measures demonstrate Chinese government's determination to not allow certain US and Western forces to wantonly make waves on the Hong Kong issue. If the US side continues to provoke on Hong Kong, it is expected that China will take follow-up actions. Because of "one country, two systems," the US can exert some influence in Hong Kong. But Washington shouldn't get the illusion that it can turn the influence into jurisdiction over Hong Kong, and make the city its sphere of influence. Global Times said 'The measures announced on Monday are mild, as China has exercised restraint so far, but it doesn't mean Beijing won't hit back with harsher measures, if necessary'.
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