China sanctions US institutions, Taiwanese official

ISTANBUL: China on Friday sanctioned two United States (US) institutions and their personnel for hosting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during her "transit" to Central America.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, the "countermeasures" were taken against the Hudson Institute and the Reagan Library, as well as their directors.

Hudson Institute in New York hosted an event where Tsai was presented with a global leadership award on March 30 during her 10-day trip to Central America.

On her return from Guatemala and Belize, two of the only 13 diplomatic allies of Taiwan, a meeting between Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was hosted by the Reagan Library in the US state of California, reported Anadolu Agency.

China said the two American institutions were "banned from having any exchanges, cooperation, and other activities with any individuals, universities or institutions in Beijing's territory, including Hong Kong and Macau."

Their properties in China, if any, were also frozen.

Besides, Sarah May Stern and John Walters, chair and president of the Hudson Institute, respectively, as well as John Heubusch and Joanne Drake, executive director, and chief administrative officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, were added to China's sanctions list.

"In disregard of China's repeated representations and firm opposition, the United States insisted on allowing Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen to 'transit' to the United States to engage in political activities from March 29 to 31 and April 4 to 6, 2023," said the Chinese foreign ministry.

It accused the two US institutions of "providing a platform and convenience to Tsai Ing-wen to engage in 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities in the United States, which seriously violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques, and seriously damaged China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement added.

Beijing also imposed sanctions on Taiwan's representative to the US, Bi-khim Hsiao, labeling her a "diehard Taiwan independence separatist."

Hsiao and her family members were "strictly banned from entering the mainland and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao," and Beijing barred her "financial sponsors and related businesses from cooperating with mainland organizations and individuals."

The unannounced trip to Taiwan by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi last August had triggered an unprecedented military operation by China around the island nation, home to around 24 million people.

Hsiao was also added to the sanctions list after Pelosi's trip.

It also sanctioned two Taiwanese organizations that advocated for "Taiwan independence."

China considers Taiwan as its "breakaway province," while Taipei has insisted on independence since 1949.

Earlier on Wednesday, in response to Tsai's visit to the US, Beijing launched a "special inspection operation," which was broadcast live on Chinese media.

China's largest maritime patrol ship, Haixun 06, led the operation sailing "in the central and northern parts of the Taiwan Straits" on Thursday.

The Fujian Maritime Safety Administration said its inspectors "will conduct on-site checks" on ships, including those for cargo, ferrying passengers, and fishing, as well as key construction sites, to "make sure the ships sail safely and construction projects operate smoothly."

However, Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau said it "asked crews to reject any attempts at boarding and contact the Coast Guard Administration for protection."

-- BERNAMA