US sanctions list disrupts relations with China
Washington’s decision to end sanctions on some Hong Kong and mainland officials is welcome but maintaining them against others continues to antagonise Beijing
The United States should respect China’s sovereignty and Hong Kong’s rule of law, and rectify its political overreach. It has no business interfering in the city’s internal affairs. The executive order that US President Donald Trump signed to end the city’s preferential treatment in trade and business remains in force.
Washington won’t say why sanctions were lifted on the nine officials, including Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok. Some see it as part of the Trump administration’s effort to stabilise US-China relations following the summit he and President Xi Jinping held in Beijing in May.
The rare but modest step at least signals a shift to a less-hawkish direction ahead of an expected state visit by Xi to the US in the autumn. Trump might also visit China again later this year, but no plan has been finalised. The two leaders agree on the goal of maintaining “strategic stability” between the two superpowers.
It is apparent that Trump wants to keep some pressure on China and does not want to appear too soft with the more hard-core anti-China elements in the Washington establishment.
Six rounds of US sanctions were imposed, targeting 48 Hong Kong and mainland officials, between 2020 and 2025. That means 39 will continue to face sanctions under the US’ Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which was enacted after the city’s national security law was introduced following the anti-government protests in 2019.