China sanctions Rubio, Cruz and other Americans in retaliation for US Hong Kong sanctions

China imposed sanctions on 11 American officials on August 10, 2020, including senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian announced the measure, saying it was in retaliation for the US placing sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, and 10 other senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials. On August 7, Washington said it would freeze any US-based assets and bar travel to the US by those named as targets of its sanctions. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said in a statement it "fully supports" Beijing’s response and will "facilitate its enforcement”.

Video source: AFP