China Criticizes House Bill That Would Potentially Sanction Chinese Officials

China’s Foreign Ministry criticized a U.S. bill passed by the House Jan. 28 that would sanction Chinese officials for government interference in certain Tibetan affairs, calling the bill a breach of international norms. During a Jan. 29 press conference, a ministry spokesperson said China is “firmly opposed to” the bill and urged the U.S. to “correct its mistake,” according to a transcript in English released by the Chinese Embassy in Washington. The bill, which modifies the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, would require the U.S. to sanction Chinese officials who interfere in the succession of the Dalai Lama, an effort that the bill calls a “serious human rights abuse.”