China News, a state-owned Chinese news agency with an international orientation, recently reported that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs just announced sanctions on U.S. government officials and some non-government organization (NGO) staff, as well as their relatives. The sanctions announcement claimed these American individuals seriously interfered in China’s internal affairs and harmed China’s core interests in Hong Kong. China has also decided to cancel US diplomatic passport holders’ visa-free treatment for temporary visits to Hong Kong and Macau. On December 8, the United States sanctioned 14 Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China for their responsibilities in violating China’s treaty promise to the people of Hong Kong. This new China-issued counter-sanction is the answer to the U.S. action. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also urged the U.S. to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs as well as China’s internal affairs, warning the U.S. not to go down this “dangerous and wrong” path.
Source: China News, December 10, 2020
https://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/12-10/9358930.shtml