In response to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s announcement of sanctions against 28 Trump administration officials within minutes of the swearing-in of new President Joe Biden, analysts say China is trying to send a threat and warning to Biden Administration officials and even future U.S. officials through the “revolving door” phenomenon that is unique to U.S. politics. Some senators even said it was “blackmail” against the Biden administration.
China’s “Chicken as an Example” Has Far-reaching Intent
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican, said Friday (Jan. 22), “These sanctions are a warning to try to blackmail Biden administration officials by destroying their personal finances if those officials dare to stand up to the Chinese Communist Party.”
Cotton advised the Biden administration to view the Chinese sanctions as an attack by China on the independence of its foreign policy on the Biden administration’s first day in power and to condemn China’s intimidation in the harshest terms.
He also suggested that the Biden administration take reciprocal action against Chinese officials. He said, “These officials should not be using our banking system to store their vast assets, which is a common practice of many corrupt Chinese officials. Nor should their children be getting degrees from our top universities or internships at prestigious think tanks in Washington.”
He even suggested that if Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai is found to be involved, the United States should expel him immediately.
On Wednesday, as Biden was sworn in, China’s foreign ministry announced a list of 28 people to be sanctioned, including 10 officials including former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, John Bolton, deputy national security adviser Matthew Pottinger, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, and 18 officials whose names were not listed.
China’s sanctions statement clearly lists that “these people and their families are banned from entering mainland China and Hong Kong and Macau, and they and their affiliated companies and institutions have been restricted from dealing and doing business with China.”
The Chinese media has not shied away from China’s true intentions and calculations. An editorial in the English edition of China’s semi-official Global Times on Friday (Jan. 22) said, “These sanctions will have an impact on individuals who intend to work and profit through the revolving door for U.S. companies and institutions. These sanctions are not hollow; this is a ‘tiger with teeth.'”
Another op-ed in the Globe on Jan. 21 said the sanctions send a “powerful message of deterrence.” “China’s sanctions, like a ‘sword of Damocles’ hanging over these people, will force companies and institutions that do business and work with China to think twice about dealing with these outgoing Trump Administration officials.”
China is no longer a “paper tiger,” the commentary said. “This is a wake-up call to the anti-China forces within the United States and to the China hawks in the Biden administration, who should take a lesson from their colleagues in the Trump administration.
Another article in the Globe titled “28 People Who Hurt China, Now It’s Their Turn to Hurt!” applauded the Chinese government’s choice of timing for the sanctions. “These people are about to enter some U.S. companies and institutions after stepping down, but have not yet had Time to announce their hiring for positions (some of them may have already found an exit for themselves). But Beijing‘s decision to announce sanctions at this point in time will obviously cause them to experience immediate pain. For there may be a business or institution that will have to say goodbye to him or her on this.”
Evan Medeiros is a professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and served as senior director for Asian affairs at the U.S. National Security Council during the Obama administration. He told a seminar Thursday at the British China Studies Group that China’s approach “crosses the line. He argued that China’s intent was ostensibly to target some officials in the Trump administration, but that the real target was more of the later.
I think it’s very damaging,” he said. At first glance it looks like they’re punishing the Trump team, but I think they’re warning those who come after them not to take any action that could affect themselves, their families and their future.”
McEwen believes China’s approach should be alarming to all free Western nations because “the U.S. was the first, who will be next?” He recommends that Western countries hold hearings on the issue and adopt a unified response.
Washington’s “Revolving Door” and the Possible Implications
Like the Global Times, the Chinese media have in recent days coincidentally referred to Washington’s “revolving door” when discussing the purpose of the sanctions.
Washington’s “revolving door” refers to the practice of U.S. government officials who, after leaving office, often take positions in corporations, law firms, think tanks and other institutions or set up their own consulting firms, and then, possibly, re-enter government. The U.S. media often refers to these officials’ interchangeable roles between business and government as “revolving doors.
For example, Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary in the Trump administration, came from a prominent Wall Street investment bank. Defense Secretary Esper, who was dismissed by Trump, previously served as vice president for government relations at Raytheon, a major U.S. military industrial company. Esper’s previous acting defense secretary, Shahrahan, came from Boeing.
In the Biden nominees, there are a number of Obama administration officials who have re-entered through the “revolving door”. Anthony Blinken, Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, and Kurt Campbell, his nominee for Indo-Pacific coordinator, both founded their own consulting firms, with operations in China.
Blinken, who served as deputy secretary of state during the Obama administration, founded WestExec Advisors, a strategy consulting firm with two other Obama administration officials, in 2017, with a focus on “strategic The firm provides strategic advice to U.S. companies operating in the China market, including “managing China-related risks in an era of competition. Biden’s nominee for director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, also worked for the firm.
Campbell founded The Asia Group in 2013 after serving as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific in the Obama administration. The Asia Group is a strategic advisory and capital management firm focused on the Asia-Pacific region, headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Hong Kong.
Bill Bishop, editor-in-chief of the e-newsletter Sinocism, commented on his Twitter account that China’s sanctions go straight to the heart of Washington’s political circle. He wrote, “Law firms, financial firms, consulting firms, consulting firms like Asia Group and Western Executive Advisors, any China-related company’s interests would be affected if they were sanctioned by China.”
He believes this Chinese sanction is also aimed at Biden administration officials. “If you take an anti-China stance, you won’t have a think tank or a corporate board position in the future.” “You have to play by the rules or your future earning power will suffer.”
Joseph Bosco used to be the director of China affairs at the Defense Department. He told Voice of America that China’s practices do limit employment opportunities for certain former officials, but that not everyone needs to deal with China to make a living.
As an example, he cited his own work at a law firm that had no connection to China before he served at the Defense Department. He also mentioned that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who intends to run for president of the United States in 2024, does not need to rely on China to have jobs.
He suggested that U.S. businesses, institutions and think tanks should stand up together and take concerted action to tell China that this is unacceptable.
He said, “If U.S. institutions can cooperate and tell China that they will cut ties with China if their people or people from other institutions are affected. That’s courageous action, and China’s efforts will be defeated.”
Former Trump administration official: Being sanctioned by China is an honor and a badge of honor
Former Trump administration officials who have been sanctioned by China have taken a stand. Former national security adviser Bolton took to his Twitter account the day he learned he had been sanctioned, saying, “I was sanctioned by the Communist Chinese government for ‘disgusting behavior. Huge news for Inauguration Day! This is recognition of my tireless efforts to defend American freedom and I accept the honor.”
For his part, Peter Navarro told CNN, “This is a medal from that dictatorial government that killed millions of people with a virus.” Steve Bannon, also on the sanctions list and a former senior strategic adviser to President Trump, also said it was a “badge of honor. He, like Bolton, has no interest or desire to visit or do business with China.
Under Secretary of State Keith Krach told The Washington Post that Beijing’s sanctions actually tell Americans what Trump’s policies are working. Krach led a “netting campaign” to remove Chinese influence and Chinese companies from the U.S. Internet, and visited Taiwan in September 2020.
China’s approach threatens to exacerbate the decoupling of the two countries
From China’s perspective, what China is doing must look smart, but from the U.S. perspective, it could fuel discussions about decoupling,” said Li Mingzhang, editor-in-chief of the e-newsletter Sinocism.
China’s approach has already caused a backlash in the United States. Senator Cotton suggested just Friday that action on decoupling between the two countries should be accelerated. “The United States should immediately separate our economy from China and disengage from them,” he said. He said the Chinese sanctions are only working because American society may be influenced by China. The new sanctions, he said, are just proof that entanglement with China threatens U.S. national security and prosperity.
Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for President Biden’s National Security Council, said in an inquiry that evening, “The imposition of these sanctions (by China) on inauguration day appears to be an attempt to exploit partisan divisions (in the United States). It’s futile.”
She said both parties in the United States oppose the ridiculous move. President Biden looks forward to working with leaders of both parties to define the U.S. position on how to “win the race with China.
In Congress, senior Republican lawmakers urged incoming President Biden to take tough measures in response to Beijing’s decision to sanction senior U.S. officials who have just stepped down from their posts.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch tweeted Thursday, “Republicans and Democrats must join forces to show Beijing that we will not be deterred from defending American interests by intimidation.”
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