President Trump Holds a Press Conference on China
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CONFRONTING CHINA’S MISCONDUCT
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “China’s pattern of misconduct is well known. For decades they have ripped off the United States like no one has ever done before. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year were lost dealing with China, especially over the years during the prior administration.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “The United States wants an open and constructive relationship with China, but achieving that relationship requires us to vigorously defend our national interests.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “The Chinese government has continually violated its promises to us and so many other nations. These plain facts cannot be overlooked or swept aside. The world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “For years the government of China has conducted illicit espionage to steal our industrial secrets, of which there are many. Today I will issue a proclamation to better secure our nation’s vital university research and to suspend the entry of certain foreign nationals from China who we have identified as potential security risks.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I am also taking action to protect the integrity of America’s financial system, by far the best in the world. I am instructing my Presidential Working Group on Financial Markets to study the differing practices of Chinese companies listed on the U.S. financial markets with the goal of protecting American investors.”
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “China’s cover-up of the Wuhan Virus allowed the disease to spread all over the world, instigating a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives and over a million lives worldwide.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “China has total control over the World Health Organization despite only paying $40 million per year, compared to what the United States has been paying, which is approximately $450 million a year.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “We have detailed the reforms that [the WHO] must make and engaged with them directly. But they have refused to act. Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs.”
HONG KONG
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Several of the most significant actions we’re taking pertain to deeply troubling situations unfolding in Hong Kong. This week, China unilaterally imposed control over Hong Kong security. This was a plain violation of Beijing’s treaty obligations with the United Kingdom in the Declaration of 1984 and explicit provisions of Hong Kong’s basic law.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “China’s latest incursion, along with other recent developments that degraded the territory’s freedoms, makes clear that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently autonomous to warrant the special treatment that we have afforded the territory since the handover. China has replaced its promised formula of ‘one country, two systems’ with ‘one country, one system.’”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I am directing my Administration to begin the process of eliminating policy exemptions that give Hong Kong different and special treatment. My announcement today will affect the full range of agreements we have with Hong Kong, from our extradition treaty, to our export controls on dual-use technologies, and more with few exceptions.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “We will be revising the State Department’s travel advisory for Hong Kong to reflect the increased danger of surveillance and punishment by the Chinese state security apparatus.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “We will take action to revoke Hong Kong’s preferential treatment as a separate customs and travel territory from the rest of China.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “The United States will also take necessary steps to sanction PRC and Hong Kong officials directly or indirectly involved in eroding Hong Kong’s autonomy — and just, if you take a look, smothering, absolutely smothering Hong Kong’s freedom.”
President Donald Trump said he’s making good on his threat to leave the World Health Organization, which he says failed to raise the alarm over the coronavirus. The U.S. has been the largest funder of the United Nations’ health body, which is organizing worldwide vaccine and drug trials against the novel virus.