China Sanctions Chairman of US House Foreign Affairs Committee After Taiwan Visit

China sanctioned Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, following his visit last week to Taiwan. McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was subjected to an asset freeze and travel ban, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said April 13, according to an unofficial translation. The ministry said his leadership of a bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers to Taiwan and previous comments on Taiwan interfere with Chinese internal affairs.

McCaul called the sanction a "badge of honor. Nothing will deter the United States from supporting free, democratic nations -- including Taiwan." He added that this "baseless action serves U.S. interests by bringing more attention to our international partners and revealing the [Chinese Communist Party’s] blatant aggression."