The chief U.S. representative for the United States in China, Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Forden, was called on the carpet by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to express Beijing’s extreme anger over the latest provocation of imposing sanctions on the 14 National People’s Congress vice chairpersons in retaliation for the passage of the National Security Law which helped restore order in Hong Kong.
Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang wasted no words in his comments to Forden. “Hong Kong affairs are the internal affairs of China, and the U.S. has no justification to intervene.” Zheng further warned, “China will make reciprocal counter-measures, and continue to take all necessary measures to firmly defend the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests.” He accused the U.S. of being the “largest black hand” behind the chaos in Hong Kong based on the pretext of human rights and democracy. The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Office characterized the sanctioning measure as “hysterical political bullying.” The sanctions prevent these 14 individuals from visiting the U.S.
