Washington calls China’s tit-for-tat sanctions ‘baseless’
- US says the punitive actions levelled by China on Friday show how it punishes non-official players
- Beijing’s latest tit-for-tat salvo is likely to increase tensions ahead of an upcoming visit by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman
“These actions are the latest examples of how Beijing punishes private citizens, companies and civil society Organisations as a way to send political signals, and further illustrate the PRC’s deteriorating economic climate and rising political risk,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki in a regular briefing.
“Americans of both parties oppose these outrageous moves to target those who defend universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, and Beijing’s attempt to intimidate and bully internationally respected NGOs only demonstrate its further isolation from the world,” she added, referring to non-governmental Organisations.
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Psaki added that she was “not aware” of any changes to Sherman’s planned China visit, which would likely entail discussions involving areas where the two economic giants agree and disagree.
A statement by the Chinese foreign ministry said the retaliation was justified after Washington imposed sanctions on Chinese officials last week and issued an advisory warning American companies about risks to their operations and activities in Hong Kong.
“The relevant actions of the US seriously violated international law and the basic norms of international relations and seriously interfered in China’s internal affairs. China firmly opposes this and strongly condemn it,” the statement said.
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The ministry added that China would sanction former US secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross, US-China Economic and Security Review Commission Chairman Carolyn Bartholomew, former Congressional-Executive Commission on China staff director Jonathan Stivers, DoYun Kim from the National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute associate director Adam King, Human Rights Watch China director Sophie Richardson and the Hong Kong Democracy Council.
“Hong Kong affairs are purely China’s internal affairs. Any attempt by external forces to interfere in Hong Kong affairs is a mere stumbling block,” the statement said.
On Saturday, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said that it supported the Chinese foreign ministry’s move to impose reciprocal sanctions on the US.
“The sanctioned US personnel and entities have been fabricating facts, spreading rumours and twisting facts on Hong Kong-related issues, pushing for the introduction of bills and administrative measures that interfere with Hong Kong’s affairs and harming China’s national interests,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“They must be punished as they deserve, and remember this for a long time. Any bullying using sanctions must be met with heavy retaliation!”
Recently, the US issued an advisory warning to businesses operating in Hong Kong.
The latest sanctions by China come just before the expected talks in Tianjin on Sunday and Monday between Sherman, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng.
US analysts said Beijing’s latest salvo, coming just hours before the two sides are expected to sit down, is a clear and very pointed signal with roots extending back further than just last week’s punitive US measures.
Beijing was a bit miffed back in March when the US slapped sanctions on China after the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi met in Anchorage, Alaska and very publicly aired their grievances, said Weifeng Zhong, senior fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Centre.
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“From a diplomatic angle, because China feels it hasn’t always retaliated very quickly, this time they did” in order to in essence get ahead of the curve, said Zhong. “I think that took China by surprise, given that they were quite happy after the Alaska meeting that they gave the US a good talking to.”
Richardson, one of those sanctioned, said naming her and other members of civic society in response to earlier US sanctions against Chinese government officials suggests that Beijing makes little distinction between government and non-government actors.
“Every time I’ve sat down with Chinese officials, it’s extremely difficult to get them to understand we’re not part of the US government, even when we give them materials in Chinese in which we criticise the US government,” she said. “Maybe this happened because I happen to be American.”
The Hong Kong Democracy Council added that China’s move to call it out was “a badge of honour”.
“It is the best validation of what and who we are fighting for,” the group said in a statement, adding that the real focus should be on Chinese human rights violations.
“I don’t see any de-escalation of tensions happening,” said Zhong. “Even if those later meetings happen, I don’t think the US has made up its mind what its China policy will look like, so China is also holding back in the response they will make.”
At this point, Beijing and Washington are in a contest to shape the narrative and claim the high ground in any future summit, added the Eurasia Group in a note.
“The two powers remain far more focused on their rivalry than seeking a major easing of tensions,” it said.
The consultancy added that “sparks may fly” when Sherman and Wang sit down as the rival nations seek to portray their respective position in the world and race for global influence.
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An analysis of the People’s Daily since Biden took office in January, a window into leadership thinking, finds the state-run outlet has been notably quiet, which was not the case in the early months of past US administrations, Zhong said.
The Biden administration’s China policy so far is very similar to that of its predecessor, former president Donald Trump, he added, and recalibrating will not be easy or quick as Washington attempts to strike a new balance between security and the benefits of engagement.
But the shot across the bow that China levelled Friday against various human rights groups is also a chance to showcase US values, Zhong added.
“It’s a good opportunity for American diplomats to show they’re determined to defend human rights or pro-democracy issues when comes to China and its malicious influence,” he added. “It’s exactly in situations like this that American diplomats need to show strength. You can’t go to China and look soft.”
