The Chinese government announced sanctions against more than two dozen Trump administration officials and their immediate families within minutes of President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.
Among those sanctioned was former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to Reuters. Pompeo has been vocal about China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims, particularly in the last few days.
Reuters reported 28 people in total were sanctioned over what China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called “crazy actions that have gravely interfered in China’s internal affairs.”
The country’s foreign ministry expounded on the sanctions on its website.
“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-U.S. relations,” the ministry claimed.
“The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests. China has decided to sanction 28 persons who have seriously violated China’s sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for such U.S. moves on China-related issues,” the ministry added.
Along with Pompeo, Trump administration officials Peter Navarro, Robert O’Brien, David Stilwell, Matthew Pottinger, Alex Azar, Keith Krach, and Kelly Craft were sanctioned.
Former Trump officials John Bolton and Steve Bannon were also named.
“These individuals and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China.”
The messaging seems to signal an expected shift in relations between Washington and Beijing.
Such a shift is not unexpected, as Biden is expected to take a softer approach to China.
Trump and his administration had taken a hardline approach to the country with regard to trade, espionage, perceived aggression in the Pacific and intellectual property theft.
This is an excerpt from The Western Journal.
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