[Asia Economy Reporter Sung Ki-ho] China has sanctioned four key officials of a U.S. non-governmental organization (NGO) in retaliation for the United States sanctioning four Hong Kong officials over human rights abuses in Hong Kong.
Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced at a regular briefing on the 30th that four individuals, including John Knaus, who is in charge of Asia affairs at the National Endowment for Democracy, were sanctioned.
Spokesperson Hua stated, "In response to the U.S.'s wrongful actions, we have sanctioned Knaus, Anand, head of the Asia project at the International Republican Institute, Rosario, head of the Hong Kong division, and Kelvin Sitaw, project manager," adding, "The United States has recklessly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, seriously violating international law and the basic norms of international relations."
He further emphasized, "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs purely belong to China's internal affairs," warning, "The United States must immediately cease interference in Hong Kong affairs and refrain from taking the wrong path."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
