US President Donald Trump walks in the direction of Marine One on the South Garden of the White Home on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. —Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos/Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON, DC — America on Monday imposed sanctions on Hong Kong’s police chief and 5 different officers over human rights issues after China clamped down within the monetary hub.
The sanctions on Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee and the others will block any pursuits they maintain in the USA and customarily criminalize monetary transactions with them underneath US regulation.
The sanctions mark a uncommon motion invoking human rights by the administration of President Donald Trump, who has described China as an adversary however has proven no reluctance to ally with autocrats.
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The sanctions “reveal the Trump administration’s dedication to carry to account these liable for depriving folks in Hong Kong of protected rights and freedoms or who commit acts of transnational repression on US soil or in opposition to US individuals,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an announcement.
Different officers focused within the newest sanctions embrace Paul Lam, town’s secretary of justice.
Hong Kong’s prime official, Chief Government John Lee, is already underneath US sanctions.
The officers had been focused according to a US regulation that champions Hong Kong democracy.
The State Division additionally pointed to among the officers’ roles in efforts to “intimidate, silence and harass 19 pro-democracy activists” who fled abroad, together with one US citizen and 4 US residents.
Rubio has been outspoken on China’s human rights document relationship again to his time as a senator.
In a separate motion on Monday, Rubio stated he was imposing visa restrictions on unspecified Chinese language officers in response to denial of entry to US diplomats, journalists and others to Tibet.
Rubio earlier additionally imposed sanctions on officers in Thailand over their deportations again to China of members of the Uyghur minority.
Beijing promised a separate system to Hong Kong when Britain handed over the monetary hub in 1997.
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China then cracked down onerous in opposition to dissent, imposing a draconian nationwide safety regulation, after large and at instances harmful protests in favor of democracy swept town in 2019. —Agence France-Presse
