US Sanctions 14 Chinese Officials Associated With Hong Kong Law

The U.S. sanctioned 14 officials on China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee associated with Hong Kong’s so-called national security law, the latest escalation in a series of U.S. designations aimed at Beijing. The sanctions target various NPCSC vice chairpersons who were involved in “developing, adopting, or implementing” the law, which has allowed Beijing to “stifle dissent” and arrest pro-democracy advocates, the State Department said Dec. 7.

“Beijing’s unrelenting assault against Hong Kong’s democratic processes has gutted its Legislative Council, rendering the body a rubber stamp devoid of meaningful opposition,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. He said the NPCSC “neutered the ability of the people of Hong Kong to choose their elected representatives.”

Recent U.S. sanctions against China have targeted Hong Kong’s top officials and police leaders (see 2008070039). The U.S. has also sanctioned state-owned companies, such as the China National Electronics Import & Export Corp. (see 2012010022), and designated other Chinese companies as having ties to the Chinese military (see 2012040008). The Trump administration said last month it was planning more sanctions and export controls against China before the Biden administration takes office (see 2011160029).

China’s embassy in Washington didn’t comment. Before the sanctions were announced, China warned of retaliation if the designations were imposed. “China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the U.S. side for interfering in China's internal affairs through the Hong Kong issue and imposing so-called sanctions on Chinese officials,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Dec. 7. “If the U.S. side insists on going its own way, the Chinese side will continue to take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development as well as the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese personnel.”

The designations target the following NPCSC officials, their immediate family members and their assets in the U.S.: Wang Chen, Cao Jianming, Zhang Chunxian, Shen Yueyue, Ji Bingxuan, Arken Imirbaki, Wan Exiang, Chen Du, Wang Dongming, Padma Choling, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng and Wu Weihua.