Regarding sanctions the U.S. imposed recently on several officials from China's central government's agencies in Hong Kong and from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, when asked what China's response will be and whether there will be countermeasures, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that Chinese side decides to impose sanctions on U.S. Congresspeople, officials, and heads of non-governmental organizations who have acted egregiously on Hong Kong-related issues.
The U.S. has imposed unlawful unilateral sanctions on six officials from the central government's agencies in Hong Kong and the HKSAR government, seriously interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, and gravely violating the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China strongly condemns such despicable actions, Guo told at a press conference on Monday.
In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, Chinese side has decided to impose sanctions on U.S. Congresspeople, officials, and heads of non-governmental organizations who have acted egregiously on Hong Kong-related issues, Guo said.
We sternly warn the U.S. side that Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs brook no interference from the U.S. side. Any wrong actions taken by the U.S. on Hong Kong-related issues will be resolutely countered by China with reciprocal countermeasures.
The U.S. State Department published the latest "Hong Kong Policy Act" report on March 31 local time and sanctioned the six individuals under the excuse of "erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy."
China earlier voiced strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to those "sanctions", calling its newly released so-called Hong Kong Policy Act report "filled with lies and fallacies" and constituted a serious interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.