China sanctions Mike Pompeo and high-ranking Trump officials after Biden took office

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In a boldly worded statement published after US President Joe Biden was sworn into office in the early hours of Thursday morning, Beijing time, China’s State Department said the former Trump government officials were “ anti-Chinese politicians. ” representing the relationship between the US and China.

“(They) have planned, promoted and carried out a series of insane actions that seriously disrupted China’s internal affairs, undermined China’s interests, insulted the Chinese people and severely disrupted China-US relations,” he said. the explanation.

China’s decision underscores the troubled and often hostile relationship between Washington and Beijing during Trump’s tenure.

Many of the 28 outgoing and former officials sanctioned by Beijing were considered influential in helping guide the Trump administration’s more confrontational China policies, which saw clashes with Beijing in terms of trade, technology, regional security and human rights.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gives comments on China's foreign policy at Georgia Tech on Dec. 9 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Among those mentioned by Beijing were former trade adviser Peter Navarro; former National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and his former deputy Matt Pottinger; former health secretary Alex Azar; and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft. Former Trump assistant Steve Bannon and former security adviser John Bolton were also included.

According to the statement from China’s Foreign Ministry, the 28 former officials and their immediate family members would be denied entry to mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao. In addition, companies and institutions associated with the said companies should not be allowed to do business with China.

Navarro told CNN the sanctions were “a badge of honor for the dictatorship that killed millions with its virus.” The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted that China be solely responsible for the coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday’s sanctions follow a series of final moves by the Trump administration against China, including sanctions against officials and a last-day statement that the Chinese government committed genocide against Uyghur Muslims and ethnic and religious minority groups in its country. western region of Xinjiang.
The US accuses China of 'genocide' against Uyghurs and minority groups in Xinjiang
Just over a week earlier, on Jan. 11, Pompeo announced that the US would lift decades-old restrictions on contacts between US and Taiwanese officials, a decision that sparked threats from Beijing.

China’s decision to impose sanctions on the outgoing Trump team follows Beijing’s comments in the hours leading up to Biden’s inauguration, expressing the hope that the new US president would “look at China rationally and objectively” .

In a regular press conference on Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying claimed that the US government had made numerous “fundamental mistakes” over the past four years that had seriously damaged bilateral ties.

The Biden administration must “look at China rationally and objectively, meet China halfway and, in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, return China-US relations as soon as possible to a healthy and stable development. ”said Hua.

“If the new US administration can take a more rational and responsible stance in formulating its foreign policy, then I think it will be warmly welcomed by everyone in the international community,” she added.

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