US sanctions 24 Hong Kong and Chinese officials ahead of Blinken meeting with Beijing

The sanctions were introduced under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (HKAA), which was passed by the United States last year in response to the imposition by Beijing of a new national security law in Hong Kong that bans secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces.

Among those sanctioned are Wang Chen, a member of the 25-person Politburo, one of China’s top decision-making bodies, and Tam Yiu-chung, the only Hong Konger on the committee that drafted the national security law.

Many figures on the list released by the State Department Wednesday had previously been barred by the Trump administration from traveling to the US, along with their family members. Designation under the HKAA brings with it financial sanctions, which can include restrictions on banking, loans from US financial institutions, buying property or dealing with US entities.

Election law

In a statement, Blinken said the move was in response to new restrictions introduced by Beijing on democracy in Hong Kong, which will further restrict the right of people in the city to stand for election.

Blinken said the new sanctions underscore “our deep concern with the National People’s Congress March 11 decision to unilaterally undermine Hong Kong’s electoral system.”

Those sanctioned include multiple senior members of the NPC, China’s rubber stamp parliament, and law enforcement officials in Hong Kong. A number of top police commanders were also sanctioned previously.

“This action further undermines the high degree of autonomy promised to people in Hong Kong and denies Hong Kongers a voice in their own governance, a move that the United Kingdom has declared to be a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration,” Blinken said.

“A stable, prosperous Hong Kong that respects human rights, freedoms, and political pluralism serves the interests of Hong Kong, mainland China, and the broader international community. The United States stands united with our allies and partners in speaking out for the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong, and we will respond when the PRC fails to meet its obligations,” he added.

Wednesday’s sanctions come as Hong Kong’s legislature is due to consider a new bill laying out a “patriotism” test for those standing for election, which is expected to limit most members of the traditional opposition. The bill is guaranteed to pass, as the legislature currently has no opposition members, since pro-democracy lawmakers resigned en masse in protest at the expulsion of several of their colleagues last year.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attend the 2+2 Meeting at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on March 16, 2021.

The move by Washington comes after Blinken expressed concern during a meeting with his counterparts in Tokyo over China’s use of “coercion and aggression to systemically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law.”

In response to those comments, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday the exchanges between the US and Japan should help increase mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region and “not target or undermine the interests of any third party.”

The new sanctions could draw a far more forceful response from Beijing, which has been seeking a tentative rapprochement with US President Joe Biden’s administration, albeit one largely on China’s terms.

A major step toward improving relations was due to take place in Alaska on Thursday, when Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan meet with China’s top two diplomats, Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi.

Beijing has yet to respond to the new sanctions, but there was immediate speculation among observers that this aggressive move by Washington ahead of the meeting could result in its cancellation.

Last week, Zhao, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, urged the US to “abandon the Cold War and zero-sum mentality, respect China’s sovereignty, security and development interests,” and to “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs,” language which is usually used to refer to Washington pressuring Beijing over Hong Kong.

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