The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced a new list of sanctions against US personnel and entity on Friday evening, as a reciprocal countermeasure to the US’ erroneous practice of imposing sanctions on seven deputy directors of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR. China’s latest sanctions list include former US secretary of commerce Wilbur Louis Ross, chairman of US-China Economic and Security Review Commission Carolyn Bartholomew, former staff director of Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) Jonathan Stivers, DoYun Kim at National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, senior program manager of the International Republican Institute (IRI) Adam Joseph King, China director at Human Rights Watch Sophie Richardson, and the Hong Kong Democratic Council. China’s counter-sanctions didn’t come as a surprise. It shows that China will resolutely retaliate against any US sanctions imposed on it. The US shouldn’t think it can unilaterally pressure China without bearing any consequences. Its arrogance should be replaced by a careful calculation of its own losses. The US over the past two years has sanctioned several batches of Chinese personnel. China has taken reciprocal countermeasures every time, imposing sanctions on US personnel who are hostile toward China and caused destructive effects. The Chinese society detests those anti-China figures, and it’s fair to say the Chinese government’s actions are a way for the Chinese public to vent out their anger. Many high-ranking officials who were under the Trump administration are on the sanctioned list. They have become the most un-favored political elites under the US “revolving door.” Normally, when high-level officials leave office, the most ideal job for them is to work as executives in multinational companies. However, most American multinational companies have close businesses with China. If they accept those on China’s blacklist, it will mean their Chinese businesses will see big troubles. China’s sanctions terms generally restrict the sanctioned and their affiliates from dealing with and doing business with China. The measure is very powerful. Senior Trump administration officials have rarely found ideal jobs in multinational companies. Former secretary of state Mike Pompeo went to the Hudson Institute, former national security advisor Robert O’Brien joined the Washington, DC-based Global Taiwan Institute, and former deputy national security advisor Matthew Pottinger also joined a think tank. Former White House trade Advisor Peter Navarro often accepts interviews. Apparently he has a lot of time on his hands. Although some people speculate that Pompeo joined the Hudson to pave the way to run for president in the future, it’s not that easy to win a presidential election. Many former US officials joined think tanks.
–The Daily Mail-Global Times News Exchange Item
