China on Saturday blamed US for imposing “barbaric” sanctions in response to the collapse of Beijing in Hong Kong, capping a dramatic week of strained relations between the world’s two largest economies. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government described the sanctions as “shameless and contemptible”, adding that it fully supported “countermeasures”.
In the toughest U.S. action on Hong Kong since China implemented a sweeping new security law on the ground, Washington on Friday sanctioned a group of Chinese and Hong Kong officials – including the city’s leader Carrie Lam.
The move came after President Donald Trump’s administration forced Chinese Internet giants Tik Tok and WeChat to end all operations in the U.S., in a twin diplomatic-commercial offensive, set to grow ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.
China on Saturday criticized the sanctions as “barbaric and rude.”
“The ill intentions of American politicians to support people who are anti-China and devastated by Hong Kong have been made public,” the Beijing Liaison Office in Hong Kong said in a statement.
The Treasury Department announced that it was releasing US assets from Chief Executive Carrie Lam and 10 other senior officials, including Luo Huining – the head of the Liaison Office.
It accused the sanctioned individuals of “being directly responsible for carrying out Beijing’s policy of suppression of freedom and democratic processes”.
The movement criminalizes all U.S. financial transactions with the sanctioned officials.
In a brief statement, Luo said he welcomed the blacklist.
“I have done what I have to do for the country and for Hong Kong,” he said. “I have no dime worth in foreign possessions.”
Hong Kong Commercial Secretary Edward Yau warned that the “cruel and unjustified” sanctions could have a blowback to US companies in Hong Kong.
“If the US unilaterally takes this kind of unfair action, it will ultimately affect U.S. companies,” he told reporters.
Beijing’s security law was passed in late June, following widespread pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, and sent political turmoil through the semi-autonomous city.
Last week, four students were arrested in Hong Kong in the first police operation to enforce the new law, officials said. Arrests have previously been made under the new law for banners and slogans displayed during protests.
Since the law was enacted, authorities have postponed elections, citing the coronavirus pandemic, issued warrants for six exiled pro-democracy activists and launched a crackdown on other activists.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the security law made the promises China made prior to the 1997 Hong Kong transfer that the city could hold 50 years of important freedoms and autonomy.
“We will not stand by while the people of Hong Kong suffer brutal oppression under the hands of the Chinese Communist Party or its subordinates,” Pompeo said. tweeted.
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