China on Thursday blocked a U.S. attempt to convene a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address Beijing's approval of new national security laws for Hong Kong. The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations had said China's action raised global concerns over international peace and security, warranting the meeting. China, as a Security Council member, was able to refuse the meeting, rejecting Trump administration concerns as "baseless" and asserting that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs.

According to a statement made by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, since turbulence over proposed legislative measures began in 2019, external forces have tried to sow trouble in Hong Kong. It notes the escalating street violence in the area has threatened China's national security, and says no country would sit idly by to deal with any acts undermining national security.

The mission statement goes on to argue that it is totally legitimate, legal and imperative for the National People's Congress to establish and improve, at the state level, the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security in accordance with China's Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the national security law will prevent, stop, and punish acts and activities endangering national security, and will allow the central government's national security organs to set up agencies in Hong Kong when needed.

The law is intended to improve Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" policy without impacting Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents or the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in Hong Kong.

Zhang Jun, China's ambassador to the UN, accused the United States of engaging in numerous acts of abusing force, imposing unilateral sanctions, seeking regime change and creating turmoil across the world. China urged the U.S. to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs and stop being a "trouble maker of the world" to utilize "hegemonism and power politics" to undermine international law and international order.

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