Beijing, Apr 21 (EFE).- China is imposing retaliatory sanctions on members of the United States Congress, officials and heads of non-governmental organizations, accusing them of interfering in Hong Kong affairs, its foreign ministry announced Monday.
The measure responds to the sanctions imposed by Washington on Apr. 1 against six Chinese and Hong Kong officials, whom it accused of repressing the rights of citizens of the former British colony, including what it defined as “transnational repression” against individuals residing in the US.
China “strongly condemns” the US decision and will sanction US “Congress members, officials and heads of NGOs” over their actions on Hong Kong issues, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference.
“Any wrong action taken by the US side on the Hong Kong-related issue will be met with resolute and reciprocal counteraction by the Chinese side.”
Guo described the US sanctions as a “grave violation of the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations”
The spokesperson did not offer details about those sanctioned or the effective date of the measure, announced amid the renewed trade war between China and the US.
Beijing had already warned that it would retaliate against Washington for this round of sanctions, which it described as interference in China’s internal affairs.
One of the people that Washington sanctioned was the director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, Dong Jinwei, a prominent figure in Beijing who was vice minister of State Security, the ministry that oversees China’s intelligence apparatus.
The US also sanctioned Hong Kong’s Secretary of Justice Paul Lam and three other senior Hong Kong officials and the secretary-general of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security in the special autonomous region.
According to US authorities, Hong Kong has sought to enforce the National Security Law against individuals residing in the US. The law was imposed by Beijing in response to the massive pro-democracy protests that rocked the former colony in 2019.
Washington accused Beijing and Hong Kong officials of using the law to “intimidate, silence, and harass” 19 pro-democracy activists who were forced to flee abroad, including one US citizen and four residents of the country.
Hong Kong is seeking at least 19 former lawyers and activists residing in countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the US. Police are investigating them for “collusion with foreign forces” or “incitement to secession and subversion” under the law. EFE
lcl/tw