China Sanctions U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, & Others

Published by Matt Fishman on

In response to recent United States sanctions, China has decided to sanction U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Tom Cotton, Pat Toomey, and U.S. Representative from New Jersey Chris Smith.

Last Friday, the United States announced sanctions on Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam, along with ten other government officials, for their roles in implementing China’s recently-passed national security legislation.

Chinese Foreign Minister Zhao Lijian justified the new security legislation as a decisive measure necessary to improve Hong Kong’s legal system and for maintaining national security. He added that the law “punishes a very small number of criminals who seriously endanger national security and protects the vast majority of law-abiding Hong Kong residents”.

However, the United States asserts the law undermines citizens of Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms, pointing to arrests like that of Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong news outlet Apple Daily; Mr. Lai was arrested today for allegedly “collaborating with foreign powers”.