China responds to the US government's punitive measures with sanctions.
US officials have been blacklisted from China.
Beijing - Before US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's visit to China, the Beijing government issued new sanctions against the United States.
In retaliation for US punitive measures against representatives of the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong and a US warning of new risks for companies in China's Special Administrative Region, sanctions were imposed on seven people and institutions in the US, state media reported on Saturday.
Former US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and the Chair of the Economic and Security Commission for Dealing with China (USCC), Carolyn Bartholomew, the non-governmental organization Hong Kong Democratic Council and Sophie Richardson of Human Rights Watch were blacklisted for China. For the punitive action, Beijing used its recently passed law to combat foreign sanctions. Details of the sanctions were not given.
Since Beijing has been tightening its grip on Hong Kong for a year with a controversial security law, the US has responded with punitive measures.
According to the agreements for the return of the former British crown colony to China in 1997, the seven million Hong Kongers are supposed to enjoy extensive autonomy and freedoms, but Beijing is taking massive action against critics and the democracy movement in the port city.
As the highest-ranking US representative since President Joe Biden took office, the US Deputy Secretary of State is expected in China on Sunday.
During her two-day visit, Sherman will meet China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Vice Secretary of State Xie Feng.
As a security measure because of the pandemic, the talks are taking place in the city of Tianjin, 130 kilometers from Beijing.
A foreign office spokesman, looking ahead to the talks, called on the US to stop meddling in China's internal affairs and "slandering" Beijing. The US has no right to teach China. The US tried to provoke a confrontation and slow down China's development. dpa
