The Hill
Date: 12/08/20 08
By: Zack Budryk

Chinese officials on Tuesday blasted the U.S. over a new round of sanctions against Beijing officials and an additional sale of military hardware to Taiwan, which China does not recognize as independent.

The announced sanctions apply to 14 Chinese lawmakers and bars them from either traveling to the U.S. or using its financial system, according to The Associated Press. It comes in the wake of the passage of a Hong Kong national security law that international critics have said significantly erodes the city’s autonomy.

Washington previously applied similar sanctions to Chinese and Hong Kong officials over both the national security law and human rights abuses against the predominantly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China would respond to the sanctions with “resolute and forceful countermeasures and resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests,” according to the AP.    [FULL  STORY]