Has China indicated how one can disapprove but not interfere?

Question

China threatens retaliation against America after branding Trump's move to end Hong Kong's special status with the US a 'gross interference' in its domestic affairs

Not so long ago the US ended Hong Kong's special status after China passed a controversial security law. They were promptly criticized by China as interfering in its internal affairs. This didn't make sense to me because it seems like about all the US can do:

1. If the US doesn't approve (and presumably even China has to agree that there'll be times when others don't approve of their actions), then they are going to say they don't approve. But since words are cheap, they are probably also going to do something.
2. If the US does something, then the obvious thing to do is to change how they treat China (or Hong Kong). That's exactly what happened. They are changing only how they treat China/Hong Kong, so it doesn't seem like interference. In fact that's what society does, e.g. if I publicly declare a very unpopular position, others might refuse to interact with me.

However, China has still called this "gross interference". This sounds especially inappropriate since I can certainly think of even grosser interference, e.g. military intervention. On the other hand if this is gross interference, I can't think of milder ways to express disapproval that wouldn't be interference.

Has China ever explained how one can disapprove without also interfering? Alternatively, has China ever explained what exactly it considers interference, and what (presumably more serious actions) it considers gross interference?

Answer 1

No they haven't and they wouldn't. China has totalitarian system of governance. In practice, that means that, in matters of national security, the only entity allowed to comment on government decisions is the C.C.P.

If it's not such a sensitive topic, they may be interested in your opinion. If not, and you are a local, then your comments may simply be deleted or you may be "invited for tea" with a not-so-friendly local policeman, or worse.

If you are a foreigner living overseas, they can only express their dissatisfaction verbally. Phrases like "gross interference" are stock responses, and often extremely predictable. The tone, and style is often slightly exaggerated to Western ears, and are not intended to be taken entirely literally. They will often use phrases they have used before specifically to signal historical parallels, or to communicate information to their own citizens rather than their interlocutor. Chinese language relies heavily on implicit suggestion, particularly in diplomatic contexts.

Your question touches on a much broader point: in China, you never really know what is allowed or not. This is entirely deliberate. If you don't know where the red lines are - you will take even greater efforts to self-censor. In the West, our laws broadly delineate what we are not allowed to do, and everything else is permissible. This is not the case in China. Despite the fact that there are written laws, In sensitive topics, one is expected to use one's own good judgement, or risk harsh repercussions.