On December 8, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang summoned Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the U.S. Embassy in China Robert W. Forden to lodge solemn protest against the U.S. so-called sanctions on 14 vice chairpersons of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Zheng Zeguang said, the above-mentioned move of the U.S. severely violates basic norms governing international relations, interferes in China's internal affairs and harms China-U.S. relations. The Chinese government and people express strong indignation and condemnation to the outrageous, unscrupulous and vile act of the U.S.

Zheng Zeguang emphasized, Hong Kong is part of China, and its affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and the U.S. is in no position to interfere. The NPC Standing Committee adopted the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in accordance with China's Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law. It is totally within China's sovereignty to improve governance on Hong Kong, crack down on criminals, and curb foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs. The decision of the HKSAR government to disqualify four Legislative Council members complies with China's Constitution, the Article 104 of the Basic Law, the relevant interpretations of the NPC Standing Committee and relevant provisions of the Hong Kong national security law, and it is completely reasonable and lawful.

Zheng Zeguang pointed out, for some time, the U.S. side has been meddling in Hong Kong affairs in every way under the pretext of upholding democracy, human rights and autonomy in Hong Kong, instigating and supporting criminal activities that split the nation and disrupt social order, and imposing the so-called sanctions on the officials of China's central government and the HKSAR government. This fully exposed that the U.S. was behind the prior disorder in Hong Kong and their real intent was to mess up Hong Kong and undermine China's stability and development.

Zheng Zeguang stressed, the Chinese government is firmly determined to oppose foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs, to implement the principle of "one country, two systems", and to uphold China's sovereignty, security and development interests. The retrogressive behavior of the U.S. will only invoke the greater indignation of the Chinese people against anti-China forces in the U.S., cause 1.4 billion Chinese people, including compatriots in Hong Kong, to be fully aware of the U.S. devious intentions, and strengthen the resolve of the Chinese government in implementing the Hong Kong national security law, combating with the acts suppressing China and disrupting Hong Kong, and maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. In response to the egregious act of the U.S. side to put sanctions on vice chairpersons of China's NPC Standing Committee, China will take firm and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests. China strongly urges the U.S. side to immediately correct its mistakes, withdraw relevant decision, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China's internal affairs. Otherwise, the U.S. shall bear all consequences.