China decides to retaliate against the US

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning argued at a regular press conference in Beijing that the US imposition of visa restrictions on regional officials, citing Hong Kong-related issues, constitutes interference in China's internal affairs and violates international law and the basic norms of international relations.

Spokesperson Mao stated that the Chinese administration has decided to impose sanctions on certain US officials who have taken a wrong stance on Hong Kong, in accordance with the Foreign Relations Law and the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law.

Using the phrase, "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's affairs are China's internal affairs," Mao called on the US to respect China's sovereignty and Hong Kong's legal order, and to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs under any pretext.

Mao did not disclose the identities of the US officials subject to the sanctions.

US IMPOSED SANCTIONS IN 2020

The former US administration under Donald Trump had imposed economic sanctions on 11 officials, including then-Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor and the current Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who was the Secretary for Security at the time, due to their "actions that undermine peace, stability, security, and autonomy" in Hong Kong.

The Washington administration had argued that the officials in question were responsible for the implementation of the National Security Law, which paved the way for the restriction of freedoms in the region.

With the National Security Law enacted in June 2020, the Beijing administration criminalized "attempts to subvert the government, treason, and acts that endanger national security," and the law was approved by the Hong Kong Legislative Council and entered into force in the region.

With the entry into force of the law, which primarily targeted the pro-democracy protest movement in Hong Kong, the way was paved for the prosecution of opposition journalists, politicians, business people, and activists on the grounds of "national security."

While investigations were launched into more than 100 dissidents under the law, numerous pro-democracy civil society organizations and media outlets were shut down.

News Source: AA