The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on six high-ranking Chinese and Hong Kong officials, alleging violations of human rights and an infringement on Hong Kong’s autonomy. This move marks the first significant action by the Trump administration to pressure China over human rights in Hong Kong. The State Department’s statement accuses the officials of using national security laws to persecute pro-democracy activists and suppress dissent, including those who have fled overseas. Among the sanctioned officials are Dong Jingwei, China’s top national security official in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice Paul Lam and Police Commissioner Raymond Siu. The sanctions come in response to the ongoing crackdown in Hong Kong, where authorities have jailed many opposition figures and activists since 2019.
In addition to the sanctions, the State Department released an annual report criticizing the Hong Kong government for using its national security laws to undermine human rights and civil liberties. The report also notes the Hong Kong government’s recent offers of bounties for information leading to the arrest of dissidents living abroad. Frances Hui, a Hong Kong activist residing in the United States, welcomed the sanctions, highlighting the persistent harassment faced by activists due to transnational repression.
The Chinese embassy in Washington condemned the sanctions as a gross interference in China’s internal affairs, arguing that the enforcement of national security laws is necessary to maintain stability and prosperity in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government labelled the sanctions as “despicable behavior” and acts of intimidation that expose the U.S.’s barbarity.
The sanctions will restrict the sanctioned individuals’ property ownership and financial dealings in the United States. This move comes on top of previous sanctions issued by the U.S. in 2020 and 2021 against Chinese and Hong Kong officials, including travel bans and asset freezes. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio supports the sanctions as a stance against China’s human rights violations, critics note that the Trump administration has also cut funds to organizations supporting dissident communities in China, raising questions about the administration’s commitment to human rights issues.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/asia/china-hong-kong-sanctions.html
