The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group – comprised of Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States
The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on 14 Chinese officials on Monday, the US Treasury’s website showed, in new designations linked to Beijing’s disqualification of elected opposition legislators in Hong Kong.
The move, first reported by Reuters overnight, targeted individuals who are all members of China’s National People’s Congress, as Republican President Donald Trump’s administration keeps up pressure on Beijing in his final weeks in office.
Stock markets remained under pressure after the news. Asian shares fell over the Reuters story overnight, as investors fretted over fresh Sino-US tensions, which offset bets over more stimulus in Europe and the United States.
The SAR government last month expelled four opposition members from Legco after China’s parliament gave city authorities new powers to curb dissent. The move triggered mass resignations by pro-democracy opposition lawmakers in the former British colony.
It also raised further alarm in the West. The Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group – comprised of Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States – said last month the move appeared to be part of a campaign to silence critics, and called on Beijing to reverse course.
Source : Reuters
