Washington imposes new sanctions against 24 officials over Hong Kong electoral overhaul

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the actions of the individuals named ‘have reduced Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy’

The sanctions come on the eve of a high-level meeting in Alaska between Blinken and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China’s top diplomats, Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi

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The new sanctions were revealed when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken updated a report required under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act. Photo: Getty Images

Jeffie LamandJun Mai

Published: 12:15pm, 17 Mar 2021Updated: 8:53am, 18 Mar 2021

Washington has slapped more sanctions on 24 Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials in the first act of retaliation for the central government’s drastic overhaul of the city’s electoral system, swiftly drawing condemnation from Beijing.

Analysts said the latest shot across the bow from US President Joe Biden’s administration, coming on the eve of talks between top Chinese and American diplomats, signalled its intention to continue playing hardball with Beijing over Hong Kong.

The extended punitive action announced on Wednesday brings the number of sanctioned mainland and Hong Kong individuals to 34 over Beijing’s tightening grip on the city after the political and social turmoil of 2019.

It raises the stakes in United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s coming meeting with his Chinese counterparts. Blinken and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan are expected to meet China’s top diplomats, Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi, in Alaska on Thursday.

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China warns US to stay out of Hong Kong affairs ahead of Alaska talks

The latest sanctions were announced after Blinken updated Washington’s Hong Kong Autonomy Act report to amplify its “deep concern” over the endorsement of a resolution by the National People’s Congress (NPC) last Thursday to shake up the city’s political structure.