Chinese and US diplomats spar over Hong Kong

United States Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad

A statement from the Chinese side late on Wednesday said that vice foreign minister Zheng Zeguang had summoned US ambassador Terry Branstad to protest recent US moves including a law to sanction officials who undermine local autonomy in Hong Kong.

Mr Zheng said that threatened sanctions and the withdrawal of special trading privileges for Hong Kong are not about democracy and freedom in the semi-autonomous territory but an attempt to contain China’s development.