(Minghui.org) The U.S. Department of State announced on December 7, 2020 that it was sanctioning fourteen Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials for human rights violations. The sanctions include blocking their assets in the U.S., prohibiting U.S. persons from dealing with them, and barring them and their immediate family members from entering the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announcing the sanctions against fourteen Chinese officials

The list covers all fourteen vice chairpersons of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC). They are Wang Chen, Cao Jianming, Zhang Chunxian, Shen Yueyue, Ji Bingxuan, Arken Imirbaki, Wan Exiang, Chen Zhu, Wang Dongming, Padma Choling, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng, and Wu Weihua. 

Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, said in a statement, “Beijing’s unrelenting assault against Hong Kong’s democratic processes has gutted its Legislative Council, rendering the body a rubber stamp devoid of meaningful opposition.”

Pompeo condemned the NPCSC for failing to follow the Joint Declaration and Basic Law and depriving election rights from the people of Hong Kong.

“These actions demonstrate once again Beijing’s complete disregard for its international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a U.N.-registered treaty.”

Pompeo said the Department of State is holding the fourteen sanctioned officials accountable for their brazen acts, including “developing, adopting, or implementing the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.” He also condemned the NPCSC for voting unanimously to adopt the National Security Law to help the CCP to stifle and arrest dissidents for speaking up against Beijing's oppressive policies.

Pompeo said, “Our actions today underscore that the United States will continue to work with our allies and partners to hold Beijing accountable for undermining Hong Kong’s promised autonomy. The United States again urges Beijing to abide by its international commitments and to heed the voices of many countries, which have condemned its actions.”

The sanctions of the fourteen CCP officials came four days after Pompeo condemned the Hong Kong government for persecuting pro-democracy advocates in a December 3 statement, in which he said that the U.S. is appalled by such political persecution. “The use of courts to silence peaceful dissent is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes and underscores once again that the Chinese Communist Party’s greatest fear is the free speech and free thinking of its own people.” 

“The United States will continue to work with our allies and partners around the world to champion the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and all those who suffer under the CCP’s repressive rule. We stand with Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, Ivan Lam, Jimmy Lai, the people of Hong Kong, and all the people of China.”