China has banned the two organisations from any cooperation, exchange or transaction with institutions and individuals in China
China has imposed sanctions on the United States (U.S.) based think tank – Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California for hosting the President of Taiwan – Tsai Ing-wen during her recent travel to the U.S.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China banned these two organisations from any cooperation, exchange or transaction with institutions and individuals in China. The key leaders of the organizations would also be barred from visiting China, unable to transact or cooperate with organizations or individuals there, and have any assets in the country frozen.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was the site of a meeting between Tsai and U.S. House Speaker – Kevin McCarthy. This is the first time that the President of Taiwan had met a U.S. Speaker on American soil. And last week, the Hudson Institute presented a Global Leadership Award to Tsai in New York City.
A Statement from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China read, “The Hudson Institute and the Reagan Library have provided a platform and facilitated Tsai’s separatist activities… which seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
China had repeatedly said it would take resolute and strong measures in response to Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy. China’s Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as its own territory despite never having controlled it. Besides, it has vowed to take the island, by force if necessary.
China also imposed sanctions on two Taiwanese organizations, the Prospect Foundation and Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. China accused them of promoting Taiwan independence and said that they could not cooperate with mainland organizations and individuals. Their Directors have also barred from entering the Mainland.
China also imposed sanctions on Taiwan representative to the U.S. – Hsiao Bi-khim. Prior to this, he was sanctioned by China in August 2022, following a visit from then-U.S. House Speaker – Nancy Pelosi to the island. Post that, China launched extensive military drills around Taiwan and suspended several lines of communication with the U.S.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has said that China’s decision to impose new sanctions over Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy is irrational and absurd. It is Taiwan’s fundamental right to conduct diplomatic activities overseas, and coercion and suppression from China would only boost its insistence on freedom and democracy.
China’s retaliation against the U.S. organizations comes at a tense time when the two powers, which have struggled to stabilize their relationship amid friction over a range of issues. Among those is bolstered American support of Taiwan in the face of increased military, economic and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan’s democracy.
The U.S. maintains an unofficial relationship with Taiwan and Tsai’s transit in the country was therefore not an official visit in order to keep Washington aligned with its longstanding “One China” policy.
Under the policy, the U.S. acknowledges China’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never officially recognized Beijing’s claim to the island of 23 million.
