China has placed sanctions on Taiwan’s diplomatic representative in Washington Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) along with her family and several US institutions on Friday. The sanctions are in retaliation for participating in President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) meetings with US congresspersons including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday.
Hsiao and her family are banned from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau. Investors and firms related to Hsiao are also banned from doing business with Chinese individuals or organizations. This is the second time a Chinese entry ban has been imposed on Hsiao, the first time being after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last August.
In addition to Hsiao, China has also sanctioned the US think tank Hudson Institute for presenting Tsai with a leadership award in New York City. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was sanctioned for hosting the meetings between Tsai, McCarthy and other US lawmakers. Two Taiwanese organizations were sanctioned as well for supporting Taiwan independence.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) condemned China’s sanctions, calling them “clumsy old tricks” which threaten cross-strait stability. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry also condemned Beijing’s move, saying it exposes the “irrational and absurd nature of the communist regime.”