China imposes retaliatory sanctions on US officials and organizations

Beijing, China - China has imposed sanctions on seven top US officials and organizations in retaliation for measures taken by Washington against Chinese figures in Hong Kong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday. Beijing’s blacklist included former US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross; the head of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), Carolyn Bartholomew; the non-governmental Hong Kong Democratic Council; and Sophie Richardson, the China director of Human Rights Watch. Earlier this month, Washington pledged support for the pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong and imposed sanctions on seven Chinese government officials. It also warned…