China to retaliate with sanctions on US officials, NGO leaders over Hong
Kong issues
[April 21, 2025] By
KANIS LEUNG
HONG KONG (AP) — China will sanction United States officials, lawmakers
and leaders of non-governmental organizations who it says have
"performed poorly” on Hong Kong issues, the foreign ministry announced.
The U.S. in March sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials who it
alleged were involved in “transnational repression” and acts threatening
to further erode the city’s autonomy. The officials included Justice
Secretary Paul Lam, security office director Dong Jingwei and former
police commissioner Raymond Siu.
In a retaliatory move against Washington, D.C., on Monday, Chinese
foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun in Beijing said China strongly
condemned the acts, calling them “despicable." The U.S. has seriously
interfered in the affairs of Hong Kong and violated international law
principles, he said
“China has decided to impose sanctions on U.S. congressmen, officials,
and NGO leaders who have performed poorly on Hong Kong-related issues,”
Guo said, adding the response was made according to the anti-foreign
sanctions law.
He did not provide more details about who is being targeted.
Guo also issued a warning about Hong Kong, saying the southern Chinese
city's affairs are not subject to U.S. interference. Any actions
considered wrong by the Chinese government that are taken on Hong
Kong-related issues will be met with firm countermeasures and reciprocal
retaliation, he said.
The tit-for-tat sanctions over Hong Kong's human rights issues are the
latest sign of rising tensions between Beijing and Washington, which are
already locked in a trade war that has rattled businesses on both sides.
Beijing separately warned other countries on Monday against making trade
deals with the U.S. to China’s detriment.
The U.S. sanctions on officials in March were not the first related to
the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
During Donald Trump’s first presidential term, his government imposed
sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials for undermining Hong Kong’s
autonomy.
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The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of
the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 2, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP
Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
 In 2021, former President Joe
Biden’s administration slapped more sanctions on officials over
Beijing’s crackdown on political freedoms in the semi-autonomous
city.
Since China imposed a national security law in 2020 to quell the
2019 massive anti-government protests, Hong Kong authorities have
prosecuted many of the city's leading activists. Media outlets known
for their critical reports of the government shut down following
arrests of their top management. Dozens of civil society groups
disbanded.
Over the past two years, Hong Kong authorities have issued arrest
warrants for 19 activists based overseas, with bounties of $1
million Hong Kong dollars ($128,536) for information leading to each
of their arrests. Some of them resided in the U.S.
The years-long crackdown has drawn criticism from foreign
governments, especially because the city was promised its
Western-style civil liberties and semi-autonomy would be kept intact
for at least 50 years during the 1997 handover.
The Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist the law is necessary
for the city’s stability.
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Tian Macleod Ji contributed to this report from Bangkok.
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