Trump signs bill punishing China for crackdown in Hong Kong, bowing to overwhelming pressure in Congress

WASHINGTON — Despite threatening a veto five days earlier, President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a measure denouncing the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

The measure sailed through Congress with unanimous support in the Senate and only one no vote in the House, but Trump had cited implications for trade talks with China as a reason not to sign it into law.

Trump had boasted that he has already saved thousands of lives by pressuring Beijing to show restraint.

The veto threat put him squarely at odds with nearly everyone in Congress, notably Sen. Ted Cruz, a close ally who traveled to Hong Kong last month to show solidarity with anti-government demonstrators and crusaded for a robust U.S. response.

Cruz lauded the president for backing down, calling it “excellent” to see him stand with the protesters.

“Xi Jinping should understand that the US is not kidding about human rights. Beating, torturing and jailing of democracy activists is wrong and this historic legislation lets China know that respecting fundamental human rights is paramount,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., prime sponsor of the legislation. “Under the new law, there will be strong sanctions, and other ramifications, for the crackdown and abuse of power. China is an export economy. If they lose trading benefits because of their deterioration in respecting autonomy and basic human rights, it will be a catastrophic blow to the economy in China.”

The bill would have become law automatically if Trump had done nothing.

“Today, I have signed into law S. 1838, the “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019” (the “Act”). The Act reaffirms and amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, specifies United States policy towards Hong Kong, and directs assessment of the political developments in Hong Kong,” the White House said in a statement issued Wednesday evening, without explaining the president’s about-face.

Trump was at his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., for the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We have to stand with Hong Kong, but I’m also standing with President Xi [Jinping],” Trump said on Fox & Friends last Friday. “He’s a friend of mine. He’s an incredible guy. … I stand with freedom, I stand with all of the things that I want to do, but we are also in the process of making one of the largest trade deals in history.”

Trump insisted that the pressure he has put on Xi has staved off a military response to the protests.

“If it weren’t for me, thousands of people would have been killed in Hong Kong right now. And you wouldn’t have any riots. You’d have a police state. … The only reason he’s not going in is because I’m saying, `It’s going to affect our trade deal, you don’t want to do that,’ ” Trump said.

Last week, the Senate approved the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on a unanimous vote. The House approved it 417 to 1.

In response to Trump’s threat, Cruz vowed that Congress would override any veto.

“President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party cannot silence the United States Congress. In case they aren’t familiar with how our Constitution works, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed the House and Senate by overwhelming veto-proof majorities and it will become law. This was a true bipartisan moment and a clear signal to the rest of the world that political threats from corrupt regimes will not stand in the way of America supporting the millions of freedom fighters in Hong Kong,” he said.

Trump’s opposition to the measure strained his roller-coaster relationship with the Texan. They were bitter rivals during the 2016 primary campaign but since Trump took office, Cruz has emerged as a top supporter on a range of policies.