U.S. Sanctions Chinese Officials Over Hong Kong Democracy Crackdown

The United States imposed sanctions on Friday on seven Chinese officials over Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong, Washington's latest effort to hold China accountable for what it calls an erosion of rule of law in the former British colony, Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom reported for Reuters.

The sanctions, posted by the US Treasury Department, target individuals from China's Hong Kong liaison office, used by Beijing to orchestrate its policies in the Chinese territory. The seven people added to Treasury's "specially designated nationals" list were Chen Dong, He Jing, Lu Xinning, Qiu Hong, Tan Tienui, Yang Jianping, and Yin Zonghua, all deputy directors at the liaison office according to online bios.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Chinese officials over the past year had "systematically undermined" Hong Kong's democratic institutions, delayed elections, disqualified elected lawmakers from office, and arrested thousands for disagreeing with government policies.

"In the face of Beijing's decisions over the past year that have stifled the democratic aspirations of people in Hong Kong, we are taking action. Today we send a clear message that the United States resolutely stands with Hong Kongers," Blinken said in a statement.

The Treasury Department referred to a separate updated business advisory issued jointly with the departments of State, Commerce, and Homeland Security that highlighted U.S. government concerns about the impact on international companies of Hong Kong's national security law.

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