JUST IN: China Bans US Congress Members, Officials, NGO Leaders

JUST IN: China Bans US Congress Members, Officials, NGO Leaders

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that China has lifted a ban on several U.S. lawmakers, government officials, and leaders of non-governmental organizations over what it described as “egregious actions” related to Hong Kong.

Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that the move is a response to U.S. sanctions placed last month on six Chinese and Hong Kong officials—a move China has “strongly condemned.”

“Any wrong action taken by the U.S. side on the Hong Kong-related issue will be met with resolute and reciprocal counteraction by the Chinese side,” Guo said.

Recently, the U.S. had earlier sanctioned Hong Kong’s Police Commissioner, Raymond Siu Chak-yee, along with five others, citing human rights concerns.

These sanctions mean that any financial dealings involving the sanctioned individuals in the U.S. are now illegal, and any assets they may hold in the country are frozen.