Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin began a four-day trip to Japan and South Korea on Monday (March 15) to solidify alliances and resist the Chinese Communist Party. Pictured is Blinken.
The State Department on Tuesday (March 16) submitted a report under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act listing 24 Hong Kong and Chinese officials involved in eroding China’s obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, in yet another U.S. sanction against the Chinese Communist Party for violating Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that the current release of the updated Hong Kong Autonomy Law report underscores Washington’s deep concern that the Communist Party’s National People’s Congress passed the Decision on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on March 11, arguing that the resolution unilaterally undermines Hong Kong’s electoral system.
“This move further undermines the high degree of autonomy that was promised to Hong Kong people and deprives them of a voice in self-government, and has been declared by the United Kingdom to be a violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.” Blinken said.
“It is essential to defend our shared democratic values and work together to hold those who threaten those values to account.”
The list of sanctioned Chinese and Hong Kong officials includes 14 vice chairmen of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China National People’s Congress, as well as officials attached to the National Security Division of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Office for the Maintenance of National Security in Hong Kong.
The announcement of the 24-member sanctions list is particularly significant as Blinken is expected to meet with Chinese diplomats Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi in Alaska this Thursday.
Blinken said foreign financial institutions would also face sanctions if they engage in significant transactions with the above-mentioned individuals.
“A stable, prosperous Hong Kong that respects human rights, freedom and political pluralism is in the interests of Hong Kong, mainland China and the broader international community,” Blinken said, adding that “the United States, along with our allies and partners, will stand united in speaking out for the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, and when the People’s Republic of China fails to meet its obligations, we will respond.”
According to the State Department statement, those sanctioned include all 14 vice chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress: Wang Chen, Cao Jianming, Zhang Chunxian, Shen Yueyue, Ji Bingxuan, Alyegin Yimingbhai, Wan Exiang, Chen Zhu, Wang Dongming, Baima Chilin, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng, and Wu Weihua.
Those also sanctioned include: You Quan, Minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China; Tam Yiu-chung, member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress; Deng Zhonghua, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office; Li Jiangzhou, Deputy Director of the State Security Office in Hong Kong; Sun Qingye (also known as Sun Wenqing), Deputy Director of the State Security Office in Hong Kong; Choi Chin-pang, Director of the National Security Division of the Police Department; Liu Chi-wai, Deputy Director; Jiang Xue-li, Assistant Director; Kan Kai-yan, Assistant Director; and Li Guihua, Senior Superintendent of Police.
At present, Blinken and and U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin (Lloyd Austin) is visiting Asia trip, will have met with Japan, South Korea’s top officials, which is also Biden after taking office, the first Time a Cabinet official to visit.
After meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Foreign Minister Toshichika Mogi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, Blinken mentioned at a press conference that the Chinese Communist Party is strongly oppressing Hong Kong and undermining Taiwan‘s democracy. Blinken also said that if the Chinese Communist Party resorts to coercion and is bent on going its own way, “we will strike back if necessary.”
After his trip to Asia, Blinken will meet with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign affairs bureau, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the 18th, accompanied by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
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