China Defends Sanctions Against Pompeo, Others for 2nd Straight Day

The Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry defended sanctions against Mike Pompeo and other former Trump administration officials (see 2101200027) for the second straight day. Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Thursday called the sanctions “a brazen and baseless attempt to silence and intimidate” officials who had exposed Chinese abuses. A ministry spokesperson responded Friday that “McCaul's rhetoric exposes the hegemonic mentality of some U.S. politicians who believe the United States can blatantly suppress others.” The ministry estimates the Trump administration “took more than 3,900 distinct sanctions actions in total, or three per day,” against China, said the spokesperson. The sanctions bar Pompeo, the other officials and their immediate families from visiting China, Hong Kong and Macao. Companies and institutions affiliated with them are restricted from doing business with China.