Hsiao Bi-khim and relatives have been banned from China following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US.
China has announced new sanctions against Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s high-profile visit to the US.
Hsiao Bi-khim and her family members will be barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, while companies associated with Hsiao will not be allowed to cooperate with mainland organizations and individuals, Chinese state media reported on Friday.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced the sanctions after Tsai, whose Democratic Progressive Party supports a distinct Taiwanese identity separate from mainland China, met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in California, leading to a conviction by Beijing.
China claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to reunite the island with the mainland by force if necessary.
Beijing imposed sanctions on Hsiao and several other Taiwanese officials in August after former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited the island.
Taiwan has forged closer ties with the US under Tsai amid growing fears of a Chinese invasion, although Washington, like most governments, does not officially recognize it as a country.
Taiwan has only 13 remaining diplomatic allies after Honduras cut ties last month in favor of recognizing Beijing, which refuses to maintain official relations with any country that recognizes Taipei.