Beijing-Sana
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that China decided to impose sanctions on seven individuals and entities in the United States on the basis of reciprocity.
"The Chinese government has imposed sanctions on American individuals, including former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, in response to the US sanctions on Chinese officials at the Beijing liaison office in Hong Kong," Xinhua news agency quoted ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian as saying in a statement.
China has also imposed sanctions on current and former chairmen of a number of bodies, including the Congressional Executive Committee of China, the US-China Security and Economic Review Committee, the Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute, Human Rights Watch, and the Washington-based Democratic Council of Hong Kong.
The spokesman added that China has always believed that relations with the United States should develop on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits rather than the benefit of one party only.
These sanctions are the first imposed by China under the Law against Foreign Sanctions issued last June.
These sanctions come days before a visit by Wendy Sherman, US Deputy Secretary of State to China, amid escalating tension in relations between the two countries.
