China Vows Retaliation... US Consulate General in Hong Kong Targeted(?)

Chinese Media Call Sanctions on 14 NPC Members an Unprecedented Political Provocation by Trump
US Consulate in Hong Kong and US Congress Mentioned as Retaliation Targets

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese media have called the US sanctions on the 14 vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) an "unprecedented provocation" and have warned of retaliation.

China's state-run Global Times editorial on the 9th stated that the malicious moves of the outgoing Donald Trump administration are recurring, and insisted that there must be a firm response to the US sanctions on senior Chinese officials.

It went on to say that the sanctions on the 14 vice chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee are a very malicious measure and a clear example of the US administration's anti-China hysteria.

The media pointed out that "the US side is announcing one China sanction every day," and criticized the US for overestimating its capabilities. It emphasized that China will retaliate several times over against these sanctions.

The Global Times explained the background of the US anti-China sentiment by saying, "The US reaction, close to mania, stems from China's rapid development," and claimed that the US administration and Congress are caught up in ugly populism.

The Global Times reported that Zheng Zeguang, Vice Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, summoned Robert Forden, Charg? d'Affaires of the US Embassy in China, the day before and lodged a stern protest against the inclusion of the 14 NPC Standing Committee vice chairpersons on the sanctions list.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded very strongly. Vice Minister Zheng said, "China will take equal countermeasures," adding, "We will firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests with all necessary measures." He warned, "The US's barbaric actions will provoke the anger of 1.4 billion Chinese people," and "The US must bear full responsibility for the serious consequences that will follow."

Within China, there are growing expectations that the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and the US Congress could become targets of retaliation.

There are also speculations that before the official inauguration of the Biden administration, China might enforce the Hong Kong National Security Law more strictly and actively respond to US interference.

Tian Peilong, a professor at Beihang University, said, "This US move signifies a direct confrontation with China's highest legislative body," and interpreted it as Trump trying to cause more problems before leaving office to burden the Biden administration.

Law Siu-kai, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong-Macau Academic Association, described the sanctions as "a serious political provocation with no substantial impact."

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