China has imposed sanctions on U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) in response to his vocal criticism of its human rights practices. McGovern, who co-chairs the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and is a key member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, has consistently highlighted abuses in regions such as Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.
The sanctions, announced by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, include freezing McGovern’s assets and properties in China, barring Chinese organizations and individuals from engaging with him, and denying him and his family visas to enter the country. Although symbolic, these measures reflect China’s irritation with McGovern’s persistent advocacy.
In a strong rebuttal, McGovern called the sanctions absurd and took pride in being targeted. “If (Chinese) leaders don’t like it when people speak out against their horrific human rights record, maybe they should improve their horrific human rights record,” McGovern wrote on the X social media platform. He demanded an end to China’s oppression in Tibet, the genocide in Xinjiang, and the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong.
China has a history of sanctioning U.S. lawmakers. For instance, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and former Rep. Michael Gallagher were sanctioned for their support of Taiwan. In 2020, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) faced similar sanctions due to their critiques of China’s policies.
Recently, McGovern and McCaul, along with two senators, introduced a bill to strengthen U.S. support for Tibet. President Joe Biden signed this legislation into law in July, aiming to address human rights violations and promote autonomy in Tibet.
The sanctions on McGovern highlight the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and China over human rights issues. Both sides continue to hold firm in their positions, with China showing little sign of yielding to international criticism.
