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China has imposed visa bans and other sanctions on Taiwanese politicians as it pressures the self-governing island and the United States in response to successive visits by Congress.
The sanctions come a day after China announced more military exercises in the waters and skies surrounding Taiwan in response to what it called “US-Taiwan collusion and provocation.”
They were announced on the same day a U.S. congressional delegation met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was also the highest-ranking member of the U.S. government to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
The Chinese government opposes any official contact between Taiwan and foreign governments because it considers Taiwan its own territory and its recent actions underscore its threat to seize the island by force.
After Ms. Pelosi’s visit, China conducted nearly two weeks of threatening military exercises that included the launch of missiles over the island and the intrusion of naval ships and warplanes into the centerline of the Taiwan Strait, which has long served as a buffer zone between the two sides.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in Washington that China had overreacted “to a provocative and totally unnecessary response” to a congressional delegation that visited Taiwan earlier this month.
The targets of China’s latest sanctions include Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-chien, and politicians Ke Jianming, Gu Lixiong, Cai Zhichang, Chen Jiahua and Wang Tingyu, as well as activist Lin Feifan.
They will be banned from traveling to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as having any financial or personal connections with individuals and entities in those regions, according to the ruling Communist Party’s Taiwan Work Office.
The official Xinhua news agency said the measures were aimed at “resolutely punishing” those “die-in” who were considered supporters of Taiwan’s independence.
Xinhua said Premier Su Zengchang, Legislature Chairman You Sikun and Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie had been placed on China’s sanctions list and would face more restrictions.
China does not exercise any legal power over Taiwan, and it is unclear what impact the sanctions will have. China has refused all contact with Taiwan’s government since shortly after the 2016 election of Ms Tsai, who was overwhelmingly reelected in 2020.
China has accused the US of encouraging the island’s independence through arms sales and contacts between US politicians and the island’s government.
Washington has said it does not support independence, has no formal diplomatic relations with the island and insists the two sides should resolve disputes peacefully – but it is legally obligated to ensure the island can withstand any attack.
Taiwan announced air force and surface-to-air missile exercises on Thursday and Friday.
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