What’s New: The United States slapped sanctions on 11 Chinese officials including Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, citing their handling of policies in Hong Kong, in another escalation of tensions with Beijing.
The Treasury Department said Friday the sanctions will include freezing the individuals’ assets in the U.S. Other officials on the list include Luo Huining, the director of the Chinese central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, and Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.
The Background: The sanctions are the latest in a string of actions the Trump administration has taken targeting China as tensions ratchet up between the two countries over trade, technology and other issues.
The measures were authorized by an executive order that President Donald Trump signed last month following Beijing’s imposition of a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong.
In a July interview in response to question about the possible sanctions, Lam said she “does not have any assets in the United States nor long for moving” there.
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)
