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China on Monday slammed the continuing visit of a top US official to Taiwan and sanctioned 11 American lawmakers and people in a tit-for-tat retaliation towards Washington sanctioning 11 Chinese and Hong Kong officers final week over the passing of the controversial safety regulation within the former British colony.
The Chinese overseas ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian criticised the US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar’s ongoing visit to Taiwan, the highest-level assembly between Washington and Taipei. China claims Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, is a breakaway province.
Speaking on the common ministry briefing on Monday, Zhao stated the US aspect ought to cease official interactions and make contact with of all types in addition to the upgrading of substantive relations with the island.
Also learn: China sends fighter jets as US presents Taiwan ‘strong’ assist
Azar met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen Monday, a high-profile visit that comes within the backdrop of a extreme low in US-China relations. The evident friction within the China’s ties with Washington has seemingly exacerbated by Azar’s visit, making him the highest-level US official to visit the self-governing island since formal diplomatic relations have been severed in 1979 in deference to China.
Separately, Zhao introduced sanctions on 11 US lawmakers and people, together with Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, as countermeasures towards earlier US sanctions on Chinese central authorities and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) officers following the passing of the nationwide safety regulation for Hong Kong. Zhai stated China has determined to impose sanctions on people who’ve behaved egregiously on Hong Kong-related points
“China resolutely opposes and strongly condemns such blatant interference in Hong Kong affairs – China’s internal affairs – as it seriously violated international law and basic principles of international relations,” Zhao added.
“Since the return of Hong Kong (from British rule), the “one country, two systems” precept has been recognised around the globe as successful and Hong Kong residents take pleasure in democratic rights and all kinds of freedoms in keeping with the regulation. That is a incontrovertible fact that no unbiased particular person can deny, Zhao stated.
“But the principle also faces challenges during its implementation, that is to say, national security risks in HKSAR,” Zhao stated.
Also learn: US well being chief meets Taiwan’s chief, fueling China tensions
Besides Rubio and Cruz, Beijing sanctioned Josh Hawley, Tom Cotton, Pat Toomey and Congressman Chris Smith.
The heads of NGOs specifically Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy, Derek Mitchell, president of the National Democratic Institute, Daniel Twining, president of the International Republican Institute, Kenneth Roth, government director of Human Rights Watch, and Michael Abramowitz, president of Freedom House, have been additionally sanctioned.
“I want to reiterate that Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong and Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs that no external forces can interfere in. China urges the US to have a clear understanding of the situation, correct mistakes, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and interfering in China’s internal affairs,” Zhao stated.
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