U.S. Is Violating China’s Domestic Affairs, Diplomat Says

(Bloomberg) -- Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi said U.S. bills regarding Hong Kong and Xinjiang are gross violations of China’s domestic affairs.

The Politburo member urged Washington to stop “smearing and slandering” China in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Saturday, the first direct protest to an American official.

China firmly opposes and condemns distorted remarks by U.S. officials attacking China’s political system and the two bills concerning Hong Kong and Xinjiang, said Yang, President Xi Jinping’s top foreign policy adviser, in a statement on the call.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed legislation expressing support for Hong Kong protesters, prompting China to sanction some rights organizations and halt U.S. naval visits to the former British colony.

Earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would impose sanctions on Chinese officials over human rights abuses against Muslim minorities. Ahead of the vote, Chinese state media warned that the government could release a list of “unreliable entities” that may lead to sanctions against U.S. companies.

No one should expect China to swallow actions that damage its own interests, Yang said, urging the U.S to correct its mistakes.

--With assistance from Dandan Li.

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Lucille Liu in Beijing at xliu621@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Shamim Adam at sadam2@bloomberg.net, Sara Marley, Renee Bonorchis

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