Image source,Reuters
Officials under sanctions include US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Rose.
China has imposed sanctions on many U.S. officials and agencies in response to the recent U.S. sanctions imposed on Chinese officials in Hong Kong. The targets of sanctions include Wilbur Ross, the former Secretary of Commerce of the United States.
This is a reverse sanction, and it coincides with the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (Wendy Sherman) to China.
On the other hand, Reuters reported that the US Department of Justice on Friday (July 23) withdrew five accusations of visa fraud against Chinese scientists.
The relationship between China and the United States fell into a bottom in the latter part of Trump’s term. Now the world‘s two largest economies are gradually seeking ways to handle this relationship.
Retaliation
The United States previously imposed sanctions on some Chinese officials in Hong Kong because they played a role in China’s suppression of Hong Kong under the National Security Law.
Washington also warned the American business community that the risks of operating in Hong Kong are increasing.
China introduced the National Security Law in Hong Kong last year in response to repeated democratic protests. The “Hong Kong version of the National Security Law” classifies secession of the country, subversion of the regime, and collusion with foreign forces as crimes, and the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Friday (July 23) that the recent US sanctions are aimed at “unprovoked discrediting of Hong Kong’s business environment” and are “serious violations of international law and basic norms of international relations.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will impose sanctions on seven US personnel and entities, including Ross.
When serving as Secretary of Commerce in the Trump administration, Ross expanded the list of Chinese companies that are prohibited from trading with American companies, including Chinese communications giants Huawei (Huawei) and ZTE (ZTE).
China’s sanctions list also includes Sophie Richardson, Director of the China Department of Human Rights Watch; and Carolyn, Chairman of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (US-China Economic and Security Review Commission). Bartholomew; and Adam King, deputy director of Asian affairs at the International Republican Institute.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told the media that the United States was “unmoved” by China’s retaliation.
“These actions are the latest examples of how Beijing has released political signals by punishing ordinary citizens, businesses, and civil society organizations,” Psaki said.
During the Trump administration, the relationship between Beijing and Washington has tightened. Until now, the two sides are still diametrically opposed on issues such as the source of the new crown virus, human rights, and network security.
Ross is the latest in a series of Trump-era US government officials recently sanctioned by China. In January of this year, China announced sanctions on outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other top Trump administration officials.
The Biden administration described the action as “unconstructive and acrimonious.”
Image source,Handout photo
The United States announced in July last year that it had arrested Tang Juan, who was accused of hiding in the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco.
“Out of justice”
This weekend, Sherman will travel to China to try to deal with this deteriorating relationship. This is the highest-level official visit to China since President Biden took office.
At this time, the U.S. Department of Justice, in response to the FBI’s internal analysis documents, issued a motion on Thursday and Friday to drop allegations of visa fraud against five Chinese scientists, including a researcher named Tang Juan. .
According to Reuters, court documents show that the FBI’s premises for investigating related cases have been questioned.
The defendants on the five charges were arrested about a year ago as part of an action to protect the intellectual property rights of American technology. The five defendants have denied the charges, and one of the cases was originally scheduled for trial next Monday (July 26).
However, the analysis of the disclosure of court documents shows that the actual effect of related prosecutions in protecting intellectual property rights is not clear, and the method of questioning by the FBI has also been questioned.
Reuters also pointed out that some civil liberties advocates criticized the U.S. China Initiative for racially biased.
The US Department of Justice issued a statement stating that the dismissal of the charges was “out of justice”.