US Imposes Sanctions on All Vice Chairpersons of Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress

Targeting Actions Related to the Hong Kong Security Law

Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, is presiding over the closing of the 19th session held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The Donald Trump administration in the United States has this time placed all 14 vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's highest legislative body, on the sanctions list. Even with the regime change scheduled for January 20 next year, the Trump administration's pressure on China continues to intensify.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on the 7th (local time) that it has sanctioned 14 vice chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, including Wang Chen and Chao Zeming. Li Zhanshu, the chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, was excluded from the sanctions list.

The NPC corresponds to our National Assembly, and the Standing Committee is the most powerful power group within China. The vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee are equivalent to deputy speakers of the parliament.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in a press release, "We are sanctioning 14 vice chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee in connection with the drafting, adoption, and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law," explaining that "the Standing Committee unanimously adopted the Hong Kong National Security Law, which has been used by China to suppress dissidents and arrest those protesting against China's oppressive policies."

As a result of this measure, the vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee and their immediate family members are banned from visiting the United States. Their assets in the U.S. will be frozen, and transactions with U.S. persons are prohibited.

The U.S. action is interpreted as a response to the NPC Standing Committee's decision on the 11th of last month to grant the Hong Kong government the authority to disqualify legislators by adopting eligibility criteria for Hong Kong Legislative Council members, which led the Hong Kong government to disqualify four opposition lawmakers.

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