Washington to curb visas for Chinese officials over Hong Kong freedom

• Financial

In what could be contemplated as a move to widening the rift further between the world’s first- and second-largest economy, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late on Friday that the White House was going to incline restrictions on visas of certain officials of China’s ruling Communist Party who appeared to have played active roles in restricting the China-controlled island city of Hong Kong’s autonomous stance, however, Pompeo did not disclose the name of the Chinese officials who would be targeted by the latest US move.

In point of fact, latest remark from the US Secretary of State came forth at a time when market analysts and traders had started to question the feasibility of the US-China “Phase One” trade accord reached on January 15th, while the sceptics’ whispers grew louder following reveal of a White House warning for Beijing and Kremlin later this week that warned both China and Russia to sway away from backing Tehran’s ballistic missiles programs, otherwise the nations would be isolated in the United Nations, eventually heightening up the heats further between Beijing and Washington.

US move on Hong Kong issue to pour cold water on future trade deals

Meanwhile, a number of analysts were quoted saying following Pompeo’s remarks that the latest move of Trump Administration, supports of which had been waning in the voting polls as the November US presidential election closes in, would likely to burn down the trade deal roasted on January this year.

On top of that, Pompeo’s Friday’s comments, which reaffirmed visa restrictions on certain Chinese officials adding “The US Visa restrictions applies to current and former Chinese Communist Party officials who were believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy,” came forth ahead of a three-day meet of Chinese Parliament which is expected to pass a new national security law enabling Chinese security intelligences to establish holdings in the China-controlled island city of Hong Kong.