China announced sanctions on Monday against 11 U.S. politicians and leaders of organizations promoting democratic causes. Among those targeted were Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, already previously singled out by Beijing.

Sanctions Linked to Hong Kong Issues

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian explained that these individuals had “performed badly” on issues related to Hong Kong. China’s crackdown followed the imposition of a national security law in the city, which had sparked strong opposition.

Retaliation to U.S. Sanctions

These sanctions were a direct response to the U.S. placing sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials last week. The number of sanctions matched exactly, signaling China’s resolve to resist international pressure. To emphasize its stance, China arrested prominent independent media tycoon Jimmy Lai and raided his office.

China Rejects U.S. Interference

Zhao Lijian condemned the U.S., accusing it of blatant interference in Hong Kong's affairs. He added that Washington’s actions violated international law and China’s sovereignty. “China urges the U.S. to have a clear understanding of the situation, correct mistakes, and immediately stop interfering,” he stated.

Sanctioned Figures Respond

Several lawmakers expressed their views after being sanctioned. Among them, Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas spoke out, defending his position. He said he was being targeted for supporting Hong Kong students fighting for democracy. He emphasized, “Chinese Communism is the most dangerous threat to freedom in the world, and I will never back down from fighting it.”

Leaders of Advocacy Groups Sanctioned

In addition to the U.S. lawmakers, leaders from several organizations were also sanctioned. These included Carl Gershman, President of the National Endowment for Democracy, and Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch. These figures have long supported democratic movements and human rights.

Previous Travel Ban on Key U.S. Figures

Last month, China imposed travel bans on Senators Rubio, Cruz, and Representative Chris Smith. This was in retaliation to U.S. sanctions against Chinese officials linked to human rights abuses in Xinjiang, China.

The National Security Law and Hong Kong Protests

The sanctions and tensions stem from China’s new National Security Law, which bypassed Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. This law followed months of protests in Hong Kong, which Beijing claims were encouraged by foreign forces aiming to destabilize China’s rule over the region.