Hong Kong

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced countermeasures in response to the US latest sanctions on 14 National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee vice chairs, covering US officials in the administrative department, Congress and non-profit organization (NGO) representatives and their direct family members who have behaved badly on Hong Kong affairs. 

Chinese authorities have also decided to cancel visa-free access for US diplomats who hold valid passports into China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Macao SAR, Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the ministry, said during a press conference on Thursday.  

China made the decision after the US used Hong Kong affairs to meddle in China's internal affairs and hurt China's core interests, and China once again urged the US to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs. 

US authorities announced on Monday that the country was imposing sanctions on 14 individuals - all vice chairpersons of the 13th NPC Standing Committee - over Hong Kong affairs. The move came after the NPC made a decision in November to disqualify four Hong Kong opposition lawmakers who had infamous records for making trouble and were deemed unfit for their Hong Kong Legislative Council duties.

A spokesperson of the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC on Wednesday slammed the US for its brutal and despicable sanctions on top officials of China's top legislature over the national security law for Hong Kong, the highest-level warning to the US since 1999.

Observers say it is the first time Chinese authorities have included US officials from the administrative department in its list of countermeasures, as some previously hinted that China will target US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in response to the US unilateral move.

This is a developing story. We will update it later.