China imposed sanctions on now-former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 American officials late Wednesday as the Joe Biden administration took office.
“Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States, out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, have planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves which have gravely interfered in China’s internal affairs, undermined China’s interests, offended the Chinese people, and seriously disrupted China-US relations,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The move came after a US Congressional-Executive Commission on China said China committed “crimes against humanity and possibly genocide” against Uighurs and other Muslim minority communities in western Xinjiang province.
“Chinese government is intentionally working to destroy Uyghur and other minority families, culture, and religious adherence,” the 2020 annual report said last week.
The ministry said that its government is “firmly resolved to defend China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests.”
Beijing said US officials are being sanctioned for “seriously violating China’s sovereignty and have been mainly responsible for such US moves on China-related issues.”
Those sanctioned include Peter Navarro, Robert O’Brien, David Stilwell, Matthew Pottinger, Alex Azar, Keith Krach and Kelly Craft from the Trump administration as well as John Bolton and Stephen Bannon.
“These individuals and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China,” said Beijing.
Source : Anadolu Agency
