Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The United States yesterday, Friday (16/07/2021), imposed sanctions on seven Chinese officials over Beijing’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong. It is Washington’s latest attempt to hold China accountable for what it calls the erosion of the rule of law in the former British colony.
The sanctions, posted by the US Treasury, target individuals from China’s Hong Kong liaison office, which Beijing uses to regulate its policies on Chinese territory.
The seven people added to the list of “specially appointed citizens” are Chen Dong, He Jing, Lu Xinning, Qiu Hong, Tan Tienui, Yang Jianping and Yin Zonghua, all of them is the deputy director at the liaison office, according to the online bios.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Chinese officials over the past year had “systematically undermined” Hong Kong’s democratic institutions, delaying elections, disqualifying elected lawmakers from office, and arresting thousands of people for disagreeing with government policies.
“Facing Beijing’s decisions over the past year that have crippled the democratic aspirations of the people in Hong Kong, we are taking action. Today we are sending a clear message that the United States firmly supports Hong Kong people,” Blinken said in a statement. (17/07/2021).
The Treasury Department referred to a recent business recommendation issued in conjunction with the departments of State, Commerce, and Homeland Security that highlighted the U.S. government’s concerns about the impact Hong Kong’s national security laws could have on international companies.
Critics say Beijing implemented the law last year to facilitate a crackdown on pro-democracy and press freedom activists.
The recommendations say companies face risks related to electronic surveillance without warrants and the handing over of company and customer data to authorities, adding that individuals and businesses should be aware of the potential consequences of engaging with sanctioned individuals or entities.
The move was announced a year after former President Donald Trump ordered an end to Hong Kong’s special status under US law to punish China for what he called its “oppressive acts” against the territory.
The United States has imposed sanctions on other senior officials, including Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and senior police officers, for their role in restricting political freedoms in the region.
President Joe Biden said at a news conference last Thursday that the Chinese government had violated its commitments on how it would handle Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese control in 1997.
China has promised universal suffrage as the ultimate goal for Hong Kong in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law, which also states the city has broad autonomy from Beijing.
Since China enacted national security laws to criminalize what it considers subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces, most pro-democracy activists and politicians have been arrested for other reasons.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press conference in Beijing – before the sanctions were officially announced – that the United States should stop interfering in Hong Kong, and that China would make a “firm and strong response.”
A source told Reuters on Thursday that the White House was also reviewing a possible executive order to facilitate immigration from Hong Kong, but it was still uncertain whether it would be implemented.
(wia)
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