Massachusetts Representative Jim McGovern has been sanctioned by China over accusations of interference in the country's affairs.
A statement from China's Foreign Ministry said McGovern frequently "engaged in words and deeds that interfere in China's internal affairs and undermine China's sovereignty, security and development interests" in recent years.
Sanctions against the lawmaker include frozen assets, an embargo on conducting transactions in China, and visa restrictions for McGovern and his family.
Newsweek reached out to McGovern and China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email for comment.
McGovern, alongside other United States lawmakers, has been vocal about China's policies in regions like Tibet and Xinjiang, where allegations of human rights abuses have drawn international criticism.
McGovern co-sponsored a bill calling for stronger U.S. support for Tibet, advocating for the protection of the rights and culture of ethnic Tibetans, which Beijing considers interference in its domestic affairs.
The U.S. has increasingly criticized China for its human rights record, handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and assertive actions toward Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. In response, China has accused the U.S. of meddling in its internal matters and attempting to contain its rise on the global stage.
The sanctions against McGovern follow similar measures against other U.S. lawmakers, including Texas Representative Michael McCaul and former Congressman Michael Gallagher, who have also been critical of China's policies.
The sanctions were imposed after a bipartisan group, led by McCaul and Gallagher, urged the Biden administration to take a firmer stance against China's human rights abuses.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the lawmakers expressed their concerns over China's actions in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where widespread human rights violations have been reported. The group criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for using negotiations as a leverage tactic to seek relief from existing U.S. sanctions.
McCaul, who serves as the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been a vocal critic of China's policies, particularly regarding human rights abuses in regions like Xinjiang and Tibet. He has also been a strong advocate for supporting Taiwan.
Gallagher, the former chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has been active in pushing for measures to counter China's growing influence and alleged espionage activities.
Earlier this year, he called for stronger restrictions on U.S. investments in Chinese companies, particularly those involved in sensitive technology sectors that could have military applications
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about international politics? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
