China Sanctions 4 Including US Republican Senator Marco Rubio

Retaliatory Measures Following US Entry Restrictions on Xinjiang Uyghur Party Secretary
Hong Kong Judiciary Charges 13 Prominent Anti-China Figures with Incitement

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese government has sanctioned four individuals, including U.S. Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.

This is a retaliatory measure following the U.S. government's revocation on the 9th of the entry qualifications to the United States for three Communist Party officials ? Chen Quanguo, Party Secretary of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Zhu Hailun, Secretary of the Xinjiang Political and Legal Affairs Commission; and Wang Mingsan, Secretary of the Autonomous Region Public Security Bureau ? along with their immediate family members. The U.S. government had restricted their entry and frozen their assets in the U.S., citing human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Hua Chunying (華春瑩), spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced at a regular briefing on the 13th that sanctions would be imposed on U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz, Representative Smith, and Sam Brownback, U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

Spokesperson Hua did not specify the exact details of the sanctions but indicated they appear to mirror those imposed by the U.S. government.

Hua stated, "The actions of the United States constitute serious interference in China's internal affairs, and China firmly opposes this," explaining that the sanctions are a corresponding response to the U.S.'s wrongful actions.

He added, "The Chinese government's resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests is unwavering, as is its determination to crack down on terrorist, separatist, religious extremist forces," emphasizing, "We oppose any external forces interfering in internal affairs."

He further urged, "We call on the United States to immediately revoke its erroneous decisions and cease interfering in China's internal affairs," warning, "China will take additional measures depending on the situation."

Sanctioned Representative Smith expressed his stance, stating, "We must continue to stand with the Chinese people against the Chinese government that suppresses legitimate demands for liberalism and justice."

Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that 13 individuals, including Jimmy Lai (黎智英), a prominent anti-China figure in Hong Kong, were charged on June 4 with inciting a memorial gathering for the Tiananmen (天安門) protest victims.

Those who appeared at the hearing held at the West Kowloon Court on that day argued, "This prosecution is nothing but a political prosecution, and it is the Hong Kong government and police, who completely deny citizens' rights, who should be prosecuted."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.