China suspends visits by US warships to Hong Kong

China has suspended US warship visits and sanctioned several non-government organisations in retaliation for passage of a bill backing pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a regular news briefing in Beijing urged the US to correct mistakes and stop interfering in internal affairs of China.

He warned to take further steps if necessary to uphold Hong Kong's stability and prosperity and China's sovereignty.

The move came as the world's two biggest economies have been striving to finalise a phase one deal in their protracted trade war.

China last week promised it would issue firm counter measures after U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which supports anti-government protesters in Hong Kong and threatens China with potential sanctions.

The U.S.-headquartered NGOs targeted by Beijing include the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute, Human Rights Watch, and Freedom House.