The United States has expressed strong disapproval of the Hong Kong government's recent actions against overseas activists. On July 25, the Hong Kong authorities announced new arrest warrants and bounties targeting 15 additional activists based outside of Hong Kong, including individuals residing in the United States.
"The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression," stated Marco Rubio, Secretary of State. "We will not tolerate the Hong Kong government’s attempts to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or anyone on U.S. soil."
Secretary Rubio emphasized that this move by the Hong Kong government further undermines the autonomy promised by Beijing to the people of Hong Kong after the 1997 handover. He reiterated that freedom of speech and political discourse are essential American values, which will continue to be defended by the Trump Administration.