In a regular press conference Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying responded to the 2019 Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act signed by US President Donald Trump, saying that it seriously interferes China’s internal affairs.

The Chinese government is suspending reviewing requests of US military vessels and aircraft to visit Hong Kong starting Monday and imposing sanctions on NGOs that played an “egregious role” in the recent disturbance related to the Act, including the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House.

The sanctions against the NGOs are “to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests,” said Hua. The decision is based on those NGOs having encouraged protesters to engage “in extreme violent criminal acts.”

Hua also threatened to take further measures if necessary as the situation evolves to firmly safeguard stability and prosperity in Hong Kong and China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.