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MADRID, 18 (EUROPA PRESS)
Chinese authorities on Monday threatened to impose sanctions against the United States in response to measures taken by Washington against six Chinese individuals for the arrest of 50 activists and opponents in Hong Kong in early January.
In a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying condemned the sanctions imposed by the Administration of outgoing President Donald Trump in his last days in office and described them as “blatant interference” in affairs. from China and Hong Kong.
Thus, he stressed in a statement that China will respond “reciprocally” against senior US officials it deems appropriate, as well as members of Congress, NGO personnel and individuals who “have behaved in an atrocious way and bear greater responsibility.”
Hu’s words come several days after Washington announced a sanctions package against Vice Chairman of the Major Central Group for Hong Kong and Macau Issues, You Quan, Deputy Director of the Office for National Security Protection in Hong Kong, Sun Wenqing, the Hong Kong delegate to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Tam Yiu Chung, and three senior officials from the National Security Unit of the Hong Kong Police.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the measures imposed on Hong Kong, as well as the national security law, “appalling” and stressed that the US government “condemns the actions of the Communist Party of China, which they undermine Hong Kong’s freedoms and democratic processes. “
The arrest of 50 activists and deputies is related to the primary elections held by the opposition in July ahead of the parliamentary elections that were suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The activists are accused of endangering national security and violating Hong Kong’s security law, which dissidents say undermines the freedoms and rights of Hong Kong people.
For its part, the Trump Administration is taking advantage of its last days to impose sanctions against countries such as Iran, China, Russia and Venezuela despite the fact that Joe Biden will be sworn in on January 20.