China Sanctions US Lawmakers, NGO Leaders in Retaliation for Hong Kong Designations

China sanctioned 11 U.S. citizens Aug. 10, including six lawmakers, days after the U.S. designated various Hong Kong officials for implementing Beijing’s so-called national security law (see 2008070039). Along with its sanctions, China criticized the U.S., saying it should “correct” the designations, which included asset freezes of security officials and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam.

“The so-called sanctions on the U.S. side will only make the world more aware of US hegemony and double standards, and will only become another joke and farce,” a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said Aug. 10, according to an unofficial translation of a news conference transcript.

The Chinese sanctions targeted Republican lawmakers critical of Chinese human rights abuses: Sens. Marco Rubio, Florida; Ted Cruz, Texas; Josh Hawley, Missouri; Tom Cotton, Arkansas; and Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania; and Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey. China also sanctioned leaders of Humans Rights Watch, the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute and Freedom House.

China did not say what the sanctions would entail but urged the U.S. to refrain from imposing any more measures that it says interfere with Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong. The country also said U.S. politicians “have fabricated various lies to maliciously discredit China,” which is “obvious to all in the international community.” U.S. lawmakers and administration officials have been highly critical of China’s forced detention of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, warning U.S. companies of business risks and imposing sanctions on officials and agencies involved in the human rights violations (see 2007310028). “Regarding the wrong words and deeds of the United States, China will not sit idly by, let alone allow such a conspiracy to succeed,” the spokesperson said.

But China also said it is still willing to repair its relationship with the U.S. and lower tensions, including on trade. The country said it wants to move the relationship to a “healthy and stable” place. “We are also ready to climb the hurdles and experience ups and downs in Sino-US relations,” the spokesperson said. “China is always willing to work with the United States in the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation to build China-US relations.”

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told Fox News Aug. 10 that China’s move will not alter U.S. decisions on Chinese sanctions. “China may try to sanction back, but this president has stood firm against China, and he will continue to,” she said.

In response to the sanctions, Hawley said “I’m not backing down,” and Cotton said he will “never back down from fighting” Chinese human rights abuses. “I am starting to think they don’t like me,” Rubio said. A spokesperson for Cruz said the sanctions are meant to distract from Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong. “It won’t work,” the spokesperson said. Toomey and Smith did not comment.

The five sanctioned officials of U.S. organizations also said the move was intended to distract from what Beijing is doing in Hong Kong. Sophie Richardson, the China director for Human Rights Watch, called the measures a “sad sideshow,” while the president of Freedom House said he isn’t sure what the designation meant. “Never thought I would find myself on a ‘sanctions’ list from the Chinese government, whatever that means,” President Mike Abramowitz said. “But it is small potatoes compared to what the people of Hong Kong, the Uyghurs and other victims of [Chinese] repression must endure.”

The sanctions were issued one day after the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement condemning Beijing's actions to undermine democracy in Hong Kong. Canada (see 2007080008) and the U.K. (see 2008040019) are among U.S. allies that have imposed export restrictions on dual-use and military shipments to Hong Kong.