U.S. Sanctions 14 Chinese Officials Over Hong Kong; Beijing Says It Will Retaliate

The United States imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on 14 Chinese officials over their alleged role in Beijing’s disqualification last month of elected opposition legislators in Hong Kong, prompting China to say it will retaliate.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news briefing on Tuesday that Beijing would take “firm counter-measures against the malicious actions by the U.S. to safeguard our sovereignty, security and developmental rights.”

She also urged the United States to withdraw the decision.

The U.S. move announced on Monday, which was first reported by Reuters, targeted the vice chairpersons of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), the top decision-making body of the Chinese legislature.

The action was widely seen as part of an effort by outgoing President Donald Trump to cement his tough-on-China legacy and also box president-elect Joe Biden, before he takes office on Jan. 20, into hardline positions on Beijing at a time of bipartisan anti-China sentiment in Congress.

Source: Reuters

Y.A