Soon after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, China released a statement imposing sanctions on various former officials of the Trump administration. Over 28 former Trump administration officials were mentioned in this report. This statement comes at a time when the USA is facing internal instability and the Trump administration is facing immense criticism for its poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chinese Foreign Ministry stated,” Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States, out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, have planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves which have gravely interfered in China’s internal affairs, undermined China’s interests, offended the Chinese people, and seriously disrupted China-US relations”.
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The list includes former Trump administration officials such as Mike Pompeo, former national security advisor Robert O’Brien and former UN ambassador, Kelly Craft. Trump’s economic adviser Peter Navarro, his top diplomat for Asia, David Stilwell, health and human services secretary, Alex Azar, former national security advisor John Bolton and former strategist Stephen Bannon have also been included. Families of these officials have been banned from entering Mainland China, Hong Kong & Macao of China.
Trump administration has been very much critical of CCP’s inhumane treatment of Uyghur Muslims, Mike Pompeo has frequently raised concerns regarding the plight of Uyghur Muslims in CCP controlled Xinjiang. Interestingly, Antony Blinken, secretary of state in Biden’s administration had said that he agreed with Pompeo’s stand regarding China’s treatment of Muslims.