Hong Kong – China will sanction the officials of the United States, legislators and leaders of non -governmental organizations that, they say, they have “had a poor performance” in matters of Hong Kong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
United States in March Six Chinese and Hong Kong officials sanctioned who alleged that they were involved in “transnational repression” and acts that threaten to erode even more the autonomy of the city. He Officials Included the Secretary of Justice Paul Lam, the director of the Office of Security Office Dong Jingwei and former Police Commissioner Raymond Siu.
In a retaliation movement against Washington, DC, on Monday, the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Relations, Guo Jiakun, in Beijing, said that China strongly condemned the acts, calling them “despicable.” The United States has seriously interfered with Hong Kong’s affairs and violated the principles of international law, he said
“China has decided to impose sanctions on US congressmen, officials and NGO leaders who have worked badly in matters related to Hong Kong,” Guo said, and added that the answer was made in accordance with the Law on Anti-Externate Sanctions.
He did not provide more details about who is being attacked.
Guo also issued a warning about Hong Kong, saying that the affairs of the city of southern China are not subject to US interference. Any action considered incorrect by the Chinese government that is taken in issues related to Hong Kong will meet firm countermeasures and reciprocal reprievals, he said.
Tit -for-OV sanctions on Hong Kong’s human rights problems are the last sign of growing tensions between Beijing and Washington, which are already locked A commercial war That has shaken businesses on both sides.
Beijing warned separately to other countries on Monday against making trade agreements with the United States to the detriment of China.
The US sanctions to officials in March were not the first related to the former British colony, which returned to the Chinese domain in 1997. Donald Trump’s First presidential term, his government imposed sanctions in Hong Kong and Chinese officials for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.
In 2021, the administration of former President Joe Biden He slapped more sanctions in officials about Beijing’s offensive against political freedoms in the semi -autonomous city.
Since China imposed a National Security Law in 2020 to quell massive anti -government protests of 2019, the Hong Kong authorities have prosecuted many of the city’s main activists. The media known for their critical government reports closed after the arrests of their senior management. Dozens of civil society groups dissolved.
In the last two years, Hong Kong authorities have issued Arrest Warrants for 19 activists abroadwith rewards of $ 1 million dollars from Hong Kong ($ 128,536) to obtain information that leads to each of its arrests. Some of them resided in the United States
The repression of the years has caused criticisms of foreign governments, especially because the city was promised that their civil liberties of Western style and semi -autonomy would remain intact for at least 50 years during the delivery of 1997.
The governments of Beijing and Hong Kong insist that the law is necessary for the stability of the city.
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Tian Macleod Ji contributed to this Bangkok report.
