The State Department on Tuesday condemned China’s imposition of sanctions on a number of U.S. senators, calling it an attempt by Beijing to “extend authoritarian rule beyond its borders.”
“We condemn these actions, indicating that the Chinese Communist Party has no tolerance for public debate on human rights and freedom of expression both within and outside its borders,” a State Department spokesman said.
CHINA INSTITUTES SANCTIONS AGAINST CRUZ, RUBIO, OTHER US LAWMAKERS OVER HONG KONG
China announced Monday it would impose sanctions on 11 U.S. citizens – including Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Marco Rubio, R-Fla .; Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., And Pat Toomey, R-Pa.
It did not say what the sanctions were, but Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhao Lijian said the 11 had “acted badly” over problems over Hong Kong, where the Chinese have been invading long-liberated countries. territory after passing a national security law to deal with protests.
The US has responded to the collapse with a number of measures, and last week announced that Hong Kong executive Carrie Lam and a number of other top officials have been sanctioned over their role in the Beijing invasion.
The others sanctioned by the Chinese include rep. Chris Smith, RN.J., Executive Director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Noth and Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute.
SEN. TOM COTTON: Sanctions from China are not worth much to me. BUT WE NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR CCP FIGHTS
“We condemn charges against U.S. citizens for exercising their right to freedom of expression,” the state said. “We reject Beijing’s attempt to extend authoritarian rule beyond its borders. These measures are not for national security, but are intended to intimidate and silence free speech both inside and outside Hong Kong. ”
Lawmakers focused on the sanctions reacted in a similar way.
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“These sandless sanctions will not have much effect on me, but that’s because they were never about me in the first place,” Cotton said in a Fox News op-ed. ‘They are meant to intimidate potential critics of the Chinese Communist Party into shameful silence and even complicity. The message is clear: the party is always seeking and ready to punish its enemies. ”
Rich News of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
