President Tsai Ing-wen says the United States’ Human Rights and Democracy Act is an encouragement for the people of Hong Kong. Tsai was speaking Thursday, one day after US President Donald Trump signed the act into law.
The act authorizes sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong. It also puts in place an annual review of whether China has eroded civil liberties and the rule of law in Hong Kong.
President Tsai says the law will make Hong Kong’s people feel that they are not alone. Tsai urged the Hong Kong government to respond to public demands for freedom and democracy.
Meanwhile Taiwan’s foreign ministry has praised the act, saying it shows the support of the Trump administration and the US Congress for Hong Kong.
