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Hong Kong at the center of two major storms: Trump and coronavirus
Hong Kong is battling a major flare-up of the coronavirus, while being at the heart of a political tug-of-war between China and the United States.
Politics
Hong Kong is caught between two major storms: one medical, one political.
The city has become the latest battleground in the rivalry between China and the United States, as leaders trade strong words and sanctions, while it simultaneously grapples with a major coronavirus flare-up.
President Donald Trump signed an order ending Hong Kong's special status under U.S. law late Tuesday, before China hit back on Wednesday, threatening sanctions against U.S. officials and entities, accusing the U.S. of "gross interference" in its affairs.
"If the U.S. is bent on going down the wrong path, China will take strong reactions," a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said on Wednesday.
Relations between the two powers have soured drastically in the last six months, over Beijing's handling of the virus, its tightened grip on Hong Kong, its crackdown on China's Uighur Muslim community and its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Tensions have ratcheted, despite calls last week from China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi for the two countries to release more "positive energy" and jointly explore ways for peaceful coexistence.