China Sanctions 4 People for Supporting Hong Kong Democracy
China will sanction four people for promoting democracy in Hong Kong in retaliation for U.S. sanctions against officials responsible for implementing Hong Kong’s so-called national security law (see 2011090044). China’s sanctions target John Knaus, an Asia expert at the National Endowment for Democracy, National Democratic Institute official Manpreet Anand and former NDI employees Kelvin Sit and Crystal Rosario, China’s Foreign Ministry said Nov. 30. All four people will be banned from coming to China, Reuters reported Nov. 30.
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A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the four people “behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues” and urged the U.S. to “immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs.” The sanctions will have “no effect on NED efforts to provide assistance and solidarity to those working for freedom and human rights in China,” an NED spokesperson said. The NDI said the implications of the sanctions are “unclear,” but the organization “will not waver in its commitment to support fundamental democratic principles.”