US sanctions 24 Hong Kong and Chinese officials ahead of Blinken meeting with Beijing

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The sanctions were enacted under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (HKAA), passed by the United States last year in response to Beijing’s imposition of a new Hong Kong national security law prohibiting secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces.
Among those sanctioned are Wang Chen, a member of the 25-member Politburo, one of China’s major decision-making bodies, and Tam Yiu-chung, the only Hong Konger on the committee to draft national security law.
Many figures on the list released by the State Department on Wednesday had previously been barred by the Trump administration from traveling to the US along with their relatives. Designation under the HKAA involves financial penalties, which may include restrictions on banking, borrowing from US financial institutions, buying real estate, or dealing with US entities.

Election Law

In a statement, Blinken said the move was in response to new restrictions Beijing has introduced on democracy in Hong Kong, further restricting the right of people in the city to stand for election.

Blinken said the new sanctions “underscore our deep concern about the March 11 National People’s Congress decision to unilaterally undermine Hong Kong’s electoral system”.

Sanctions include multiple senior members of the NPC, China’s rubber stamp parliament and law enforcement officials in Hong Kong. A number of top police commanders were also previously punished.

“This move further undermines the high degree of autonomy promised to people in Hong Kong and denies Hong Kongers a say in their own governance, a move that the UK has declared to be a violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration,” said Blinken. .

“A stable, prosperous Hong Kong that respects human rights, freedoms and political pluralism serves the interests of Hong Kong, mainland China and the wider international community. The United States is united with our allies and partners in speaking out for the rights and freedoms. of people in Hong Kong, and we will respond when the PRC fails to meet its obligations, ”he added.

Wednesday’s sanctions come as the Hong Kong legislature must consider a new bill that includes a “patriotism” test for those in election, which is expected to limit most members of the traditional opposition. The bill is guaranteed to pass as the legislature currently has no opposition members as pro-democracy lawmakers have resigned en masse in protest at the expulsion of some of their colleagues last year.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attend the 2 + 2 meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on March 16, 2021.
Washington’s move comes after Blinken, during a meeting with his counterparts in Tokyo, raised concerns about China’s use of “coercion and aggression to systematically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undermine democracy in Taiwan, human rights in Xinjiang, and Violate Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law. ”

In response to those comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that the exchanges between the US and Japan should help increase mutual understanding and trust between countries in the region and “not the interests of a third party. party should undermine or undermine “.

The new sanctions could receive a much stronger response from Beijing, which was seeking a cautious rapprochement with US President Joe Biden’s administration, albeit largely on China’s terms.

A major step toward improving relations would take place in Alaska on Thursday, when Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan meet with China’s top two diplomats, Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi.

Beijing has yet to respond to the new sanctions, but there was immediate speculation among observers that Washington’s aggressive move ahead of the meeting could lead to its cancellation.

Last week, Zhao, the spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, urged the US “to give up the Cold War and zero-sum mindset, respect China’s sovereignty, security and development interests” and “stop” with interference in the internal affairs of China “. commonly used to refer to Washington pressuring Beijing over Hong Kong.

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