China imposes sanctions on US individuals, entities

BEIJING: China announced sanctions on seven American citizens and entities on Friday in response to a US advisory on deteriorating freedoms in Hong Kong, just days ahead of a visit from a senior Biden administration official.

Tensions between Beijing and Washington have soured on a number of fronts, including human rights, trade, cybersecurity and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last week, the US warned its business community of the growing risks of operating in Hong Kong, following a clampdown by China in the major financial hub.

In a statement on Friday, China’s foreign ministry said the move was designed to “groundlessly smear Hong Kong’s business environment” and “gravely violate international law and basic norms governing international relations”.

In response, China said it would impose sanctions on seven US individuals and entities including Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary under former president Donald Trump.

While in office, Ross broadened the list of companies that cannot trade with US firms without a prior licence, including Chinese telecom giants such as Huawei and ZTE.

Beijing’s move comes ahead of a trip to China by US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman, intended to address deteriorating ties between the two countries and the highest-level visit an official has made under President Joe Biden.

Others sanctioned include Carolyn Bartholomew, chair of US-China economic and security review commission; Adam King of the International Republican Institute; and Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. China’s statement did not give details about what form the sanctions would take.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing that the US was “undeterred” by China’s move. “These actions are the latest examples of how Beijing punishes private citizens, companies and civil society organisations as a way to send political signals.”

China blasts NBC for using ‘incomplete’ map China lashed out at Comcast Corp’s NBCUniversal for displaying an “incomplete” map of the country during its broadcast of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony when Chinese athletes appeared, saying the games shouldn’t be politicised.

“The map is an expression of the national territory, symbolising national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” a spokesperson for the Chinese consulate in New York said. “We urge the NBC to recognise the serious nature of this problem and take measures to correct the error.”