China has imposed sanctions on a former Republican member of Congress from Wisconsin, who has expressed support for Taiwan. The individual will be prohibited from entering China, have any assets in the country frozen, and be restricted from engaging in various exchanges with Chinese entities and individuals, as announced by the country's Foreign Ministry.
These sanctions were implemented following U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's congratulatory message to Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, on his recent inauguration. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and has expressed intentions to annex it by force if necessary, reacting strongly to interactions between other nations and Taipei.
The former congressman, who resigned in April, played a significant role in leading efforts within the House against the Chinese government. Notably, he was involved in the passage of legislation that could potentially lead to the banning of the popular video-sharing app TikTok if its Chinese parent company fails to divest its ownership.
In February, the individual led a delegation from Congress on a visit to Taiwan, aimed at reaffirming Washington's unwavering support for Taipei. While the United States, in line with the majority of countries, does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, it is obligated by its own laws to ensure the island's ability to defend itself.
