What’s new: China on Monday slapped sanctions on 11 American lawmakers and foreign policy specialists, following a similar move by the United States to punish Chinese officials.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference that the sanctioned individuals included Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, Republican senators known for taking a hawkish approach to China.
The background: Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on 11 mainland Chinese and Hong Kong officials, citing their roles in enacting a controversial national security law on the Asian financial hub.
Reiterating the Hong Kong government’s initial condemnation, Zhao said at Monday’s press conference that the measure “openly meddles with Hong Kong affairs, blatantly interferes in China’s internal affairs, and gravely violates international law and basic norms governing international relations.”
Tensions between China and the U.S. have risen since last year as the world’s top two economies have clashed over trade, the crackdown on protests in Hong Kong, and alleged rights violations in China’s far western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, among other issues.
Contact reporter Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) and editor Heather Mowbray (heathermowbray@caixin.com)
