China sanctions two U.S. individuals over illegal U.S. sanctions on Tibet

Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced sanctions on Yu Maochun, known as Miles Yu in the U.S., and Todd Stein as countermeasures to the illegal U.S. sanctions of two Chinese officials on so-called human rights issues related to China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 

On December 9, the U.S. sanctioned two Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. In response, China said the sanctions were illegal and seriously harmed China-U.S. relations. 

Yu has reportedly played an important role in Washington's new Cold War against China. Todd Stein, deputy staff director of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, is also director of “Government Relations at the International Campaign for Tibet” and has been actively pushing bills targeting China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

China will freeze all Chinese assets of both Yu and Stein, and ban any organization or individual within China from engaging with them. Both men and their immediate family members are also banned from entering China, according to the Foreign Ministry statement. 

The order, which takes effect from Friday, was signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.