In response to Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China imposes sanctions on her and her close family members, according to a MOFA statement, news agency AP reported.
The sanctions against Pelosi and her immediate family members were revealed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement late on Friday.
In retaliation for Pelosi's Taiwan visit, China suspends discussions with the US on climate change, military matters, and anti-drug efforts, PTI reported.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, which criticised her visit and lodged stern protests to the US by summoning its Ambassador to China Chris Burns, issued a statement on Friday imposing sanctions against Pelosi and her family.
“In disregard of China’s grave concerns and firm opposition, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi insisted on visiting China’s Taiwan region,” the statement said.
“This constitutes gross interference in China’s internal affairs. It gravely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously tramples on the one-China principle, and severely threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” it said.
“In response to Pelosi’s egregious provocation, China decides to adopt sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family members in accordance with relevant laws of the People’s Republic of China,” it added.
The sanctions against Pelosi were regarded as symbolic and it bans her and her family members from travelling to China.
The highest level American official to get penalties from China is Pelosi. Just before President Joe Biden took office last year, Beijing sanctioned former US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.
Pompeo didn't travel to the autonomous island until the end of his term. Since leaving office, he has advocated for Taiwan to be recognized as a "free and independent nation."
According to China, Pelosi's trip was extremely delicate because of her place as the second in line to become president, Bloomberg reported.
According to a China's statement, Pelosi's visit is provocative and threatens China's territorial integrity. It stated that Pelosi and her immediate family would face sanctions, but it did not specify what those consequences would be. Typically, the majority of these punishments have a symbolic purpose, AP reported.
Despite putting sanctions on other Chinese officials involved in the process, Washington has refrained from sanctioning Li Zhanshu, the head of China's legislative body and No. 3 official, for his crucial role in imposing the national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020.
(With Inputs From Agencies)