Lawmakers Call for More Chinese Sanctions for Interference in Hong Kong

A bipartisan group of senators called on the Biden administration to issue more sanctions to penalize China for interfering in Hong Kong’s autonomy. In a resolution introduced March 19, the senators, led by Marco Rubio R-Fla., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Ed Markey, D-Mass., said the administration should consider more sanctions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (see 2011120005) to “impose costs” on Chinese officials

In a statement, Rubio said the U.S. “must act with all of the diplomatic and economic tools available to hold” Chinese officials accountable. Cardin urged continue to “enact consequences for those who violate human rights.” The resolution was introduced days after the U.S. sanctioned 24 Chinese officials under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (see 2103170027). China has said it opposes the sanctions and called on the administration to revoke the designations.