China Hits Back: Sanctions 11 U.S. Lawmakers Over Hong Kong Stance

China announced sanctions on Monday against 11 US lawmakers and leaders of pro-democracy groups. This move came just days after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials over the crackdown in the region. Among those targeted by China were Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, who were already under Chinese sanctions.

Criticism Over Hong Kong

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said these individuals had “performed badly” on matters related to Hong Kong. China had recently tightened its grip on the city by implementing a new national security law. Many critics see this law as a way to silence opposition voices.

Jimmy Lai’s Arrest Sends a Message

On the same day, Chinese authorities arrested media tycoon Jimmy Lai. They also raided his company’s offices. These actions showed China’s determination to resist international criticism.

China Defends Its Actions

At a daily briefing, Zhao said, “The relevant actions of the U.S. blatantly intervened in Hong Kong affairs, grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, and seriously violated international law and the basic norms of international relations.” He added, “China urges the U.S. to have a clear understanding of the situation, correct mistakes, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China’s internal affairs.”

Equal Number of Sanctions

Interestingly, China sanctioned exactly 11 Americans—matching the number of Chinese and Hong Kong officials sanctioned by the U.S. This signaled a clear tit-for-tat approach from Beijing.

Besides Rubio and Cruz, China also targeted Senator Josh Hawley, Senator Tom Cotton, Senator Pat Toomey, and Representative Chris Smith.

U.S. Senators Respond

Senator Tom Cotton responded strongly to the sanctions. He said, “Chinese Communism is the most dangerous threat to freedom in the world, and I will never back down from fighting it.” He added that he was being punished for standing up for victims of Communist rule, including pro-democracy students in Hong Kong.

Heads of NGOs Also Sanctioned

China also penalized several leaders of international organizations that support democracy and human rights. These included:

• Carl Gershman (President, National Endowment for Democracy)

• Derek Mitchell (President, National Democratic Institute)

• Daniel Twining (President, International Republican Institute)

• Kenneth Roth (Executive Director, Human Rights Watch)

• Michael Abramowitz (President, Freedom House)

Previous Sanctions Over Xinjiang

Last month, China had already placed a travel ban on Rubio, Cruz, and Smith. That action followed U.S. sanctions against Chinese officials linked to human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region.

China’s national legislature passed the controversial National Security Law in June. It bypassed Hong Kong’s own lawmakers and public opinion. The law had faced strong opposition for years. But Beijing went ahead, citing national security concerns.

Background of the Hong Kong Protests

The new law followed months of protests in Hong Kong in 2019. These protests, often intense and sometimes violent, called for more democracy and opposed Beijing’s control. China claimed that foreign powers had encouraged the unrest in an effort to weaken its rule.

‘One Country, Two Systems’ Under Strain

When Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, both sides agreed on the “one country, two systems” model. This agreement was meant to protect Hong Kong’s freedoms until 2047. However, China’s recent actions have raised serious doubts about its commitment to that promise.