China's President Xi Jinping (R) and Premier Li Keqiang are applauded by delegates, including former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (top C), at the Congress in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images
China's legislature on Thursday passed a resolution called the "patriots governing Hong Kong," in a move to overhaul the city's elections.
Why it matters: The action effectively gives the Chinese Communist Party control of the Asian financial hub's elections, reducing democratic representation and allowing a "pro-Beijing panel to vet 'patriotic' candidates," the BBC notes.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress Wednesday that the Biden administration would "speak out and take action against egregious violations of democracy and human rights in Hong Kong."
- Blinken vowed to "follow through on sanctions" against "those responsible for committing repressive acts" in the former British colony.
By the numbers: Lawmakers in Beijing voted 2895-zero for the Hong Kong resolution, with one abstention.
What to watch: President Biden is meeting with the leaders of Japan, Australia and India in a virtual summit of the so-called "Quad" this Friday, as part of efforts to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will meet with two top China officials next week in Anchorage, Alaska, in the first in-person meeting between senior U.S. and China officials since Biden took office.
Go deeper: Cyber, human rights expected to top U.S.-China summit
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.