The constant drumbeat of measures against China is consistent with a central element of Mr. Trump`s campaign strategy. Political strategists are trying to portray the president as tough on the country in order to divert the national conversation from his failures to deal with the pandemic and the economy. Aug 19 (UPI) – In a bid to escalate tensions between Washington and Beijing, the Trump administration on Wednesday suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter. Hong Kong on Thursday strongly condemned the U.S. decision to end three bilateral agreements with the city`s government, officials said. The termination of the agreements follows US President Donald Trump`s order last month to end Hong Kong`s special status under the US. Law to punish China for what he called “oppressive acts” against the former British colony. U.S. officials officially informed Hong Kong on Wednesday that the U.S. has withdrawn from three bilateral agreements with the semi-autonomous Chinese city on extradition and taxation.

The Hong Kong government said the U.S. decision to end the agreements showed “a lack of respect for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community.” U.S. authorities also closed the Chinese consulate in Houston, citing industrial spying efforts by diplomats to steal scientific research. Some students associated with Chinese military institutions have been banned from traveling to the United States. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had informed Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday of the suspension or termination of bilateral agreements on extradition and Tex exemptions. On June 30, China`s National People`s Congress unanimously passed a new security law, promulgated in Hong Kong on July 1 to strengthen security in the city. It has drawn criticism in Hong Kong and the international community, which Beijing has called “foreign intervention.” The day before, Mr. Trump had signed two executive orders prohibiting U.S. residents and businesses from transacting with Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat within 45 days. The orders cited national security concerns and said the services did not keep users` data private.

Mr Trump has since given ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, until November to divest itself of its US assets and all the data TikTok had collected in the US. ==References=====External links===President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month ending Hong Kong`s preferred trade and diplomatic status and pursued measures such as imposing sanctions on Hong Kong`s current chief executive Carrie Lam and other officials in Hong Kong and mainland China. The Trump administration on Wednesday suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong on extradition and tax exemptions. The Trump administration suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong in its recent response to the new national security law imposed on China`s semi-autonomous city. The U.S. State Department issued a statement Wednesday saying the agreements included the extradition of refugees and convicts, as well as tax exemptions for international shipping revenues. President Donald Trump had previously noted that Hong Kong was no longer eligible for the continued preferential treatment it enjoyed because of its autonomy after its return to Chinese rule in 1997. The three agreements concern the transfer of refugees and convicted prisoners as well as reciprocal tax exemptions on income from international maritime transport. Welcome to The Globe and Mail`s community of commentators.

This is a space where subscribers can interact with each other and with Globe employees. The State Department said in a statement that the terminated agreements included “the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of convicted persons, and reciprocal tax exemptions on income from the international operation of ships.” On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department informed Hong Kong authorities of the suspension or termination of three bilateral agreements. The United States disagrees with China over its policies in Hong Kong, particularly its decision to apply a controversial national security law to the autonomous territory, which critics say aims to crack down on dissent. As part of the ongoing implementation measures, we informed the Hong Kong authorities on 19 August of the suspension or termination of three bilateral agreements. These agreements concerned the surrender of fugitive offenders, the transfer of convicted persons and reciprocal tax exemptions on income from international maritime operations. Washington — The Trump administration on Wednesday suspended or terminated three bilateral agreements with Hong Kong related to extradition and tax exemptions, the latest in a series of measures that are escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing. Welcome to The Globe and Mail`s community of commentators. This is a space where subscribers can interact with each other and with Globe employees. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments, but under no circumstances can interact with them. Click here to register. “The unilateral decision by the United States reflects its contempt for bilateralism and multilateralism under the current administration and should be condemned by the international community,” a Hong Kong government spokesman said in a statement.

“The [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] rejects and regrets the ACTION of the United States, which is widely seen as a step to create problems in China and the United States. Relationship, using Hong Kong as a pawn. The legislation punishes anything China considers secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces to life imprisonment and has drawn criticism from Western countries who fear the law will end the freedoms promised when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. “The termination of the agreements increases the operating costs of the shipping companies concerned, especially the US companies, as they will be subject to double taxation.