In the latest tit-for-tat between the US and China, China imposed sanctions on 11 Americans, including six US lawmakers for “behaving badly on Hong Kong related issues.”
This was in response to US sanctions against Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and 10 other senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials, according to CBS Local. On Friday, the Trump administration froze the respective officials’ US-based assets and barred them from traveling to the US.
Initially, Carrie Lam told The Guardian that she did not “particularly like going to the US” and did not have any assets to begin with. Luo Huining, the head of China’s liaison office in Hong Kong also mocked the measure as useless.
Huining said, “Being put on the US sanctions list just means that I have done what I should do for the nation and Hong Kong. Isn’t such a ‘sanction’ in vain as I don’t have any assets abroad? Of course, I can also send $100 to Mr Trump for freezing.”
However, on Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “The US action (on Friday) was a blatant interference in Hong Kong’s affairs and in China’s internal affairs.” Zhao Lijian told CNN, “It was a serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations.”
Consequently, Beijing sanctioned 11 US citizens, including Senators Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania along with Representatives Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Chris Smith of New Jersey.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HSKAR) also agreed with Beijing’s decision. According to Xinhua, the HSKAR spokesperson stressed, “The imposition of sanctions against 11 persons from the U.S. by the central government in response to its wrongful act is necessary for safeguarding the interests of our nation. The HKSAR government fully supports the move and will facilitate its enforcement in accordance with the law.”
Soon after the sanctions were announced, Rubio tweeted, “Last month #China banned me. Today they sanctioned me. I don’t want to be paranoid but I am starting to think they don’t like me.”
Last month, China penalized Rubio for allegedly interfering in affairs within Xinjiang. US officials estimated approximately 2 million Muslim residents were sent to mass detention camps in this region.
Senator Hawley also tweeted, “China is sanctioning me in retaliation for speaking out against #ChineseCommunistParty and defending America’s interests. Retaliate all you want. I’m not backing down.”
The US and China have been spatting over Hong Kong’s new national security law imposed by Beijing on June 30th. The law “criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces”, according to CNN. US senators and lawmakers have constantly expressed their discontent and outrage.
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