Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 into law, despite stern warnings by China that it would retaliate with "countermeasures" if the legislation became law. Trump’s move of signing the bill is widely seen as him supporting the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong as it meddles with Beijing's domestic affairs.

The development came a week after the US House of Representatives passed the pro-Hong Kong rights bill by near 417-1 unanimous margins amid crackdowns on months of anti-government protests. The chamber approved a measure that is meant to protect human rights in Hong Kong.

The legislation slaps economic sanctions on individuals who commit human rights violations in Hong Kong and bars them from entering the US. It also mandates the State Department to furnish an annual report to lawmakers on whether Hong Kong remains "sufficiently autonomous" from China.

The legislation also aims at banning the export of certain munitions to Hong Kong police.

"I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong. They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all," Trump said in a statement.

The move is likely to impact the already strained ties between Washington and Beijing, casting a shadow over delicate talks between the two countries aimed at ending the trade war.

CNBC reported that China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday the U.S. has “sinister intentions” and its “plot” is “doomed to fail,”.

“We are officially telling the U.S. and the handful of opposition politicians in Hong Kong who follow America’s lead to not underestimate our determination to protect Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, don’t underestimate our belief to protect the ‘one country, two systems policy’ and don’t underestimate our capabilities and strategies in protecting our country’s sovereignty, safety, growth and rights,” the office said, according to a CNBC translation of an online-Chinese language statement.

(With ANI Inputs)