July 15 (UPI) -- In the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Beijing, China on Wednesday vowed to sanction U.S. institutions and politicians in retaliation for President Donald Trump signing legislation to punish Chinese officials for infringing upon Hong Kong's autonomy.
In a statement on Wednesday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Trump's signing of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act hours earlier into law as interfering in its internal affairs, promising to take "necessary action to impose sanctions against related U.S. institutions and individuals."