China on Wednesday said it was sanctioning former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other officials of Trump administration for violating the country's "sovereignty" by making "crazy" policy moves.
"Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States, out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, have planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves," China's foreign ministry said in a statement.
The move came as new US President Joe Biden is expected to remain tough on China but has expressed committment to international cooperation after Trump's "America First" approach.
"China has decided to sanction 28 persons who have seriously violated China's sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for such US moves on China-related issues," the foreign ministry added.
Apart from Pompeo, those sanctioned include Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, national security advisor Robert O'Brien, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs David Stilwell, health secretary Alex Azar and UN envoy Kelly Craft, among others.
Beijing also sanctioned former Trump national security advisor John Bolton and former senior advisor Steve Bannon.
"They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China," it added.
During his last days in office, Trump questioned China over trade, security, technology, the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rights of people from Hong Kong to Xinjiang, home to the country's Uighur minority.
On Tuesday, Pompeo said Beijing's sweeping incarceration of mostly Muslim minorities in the far western Xinjiang region amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity.
The Chinese foreign ministry hit back, accusing Pompeo of fabricating "sensational false propositions" throughout his term in office.
However, Biden's pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken agreed with Pompeo's assessment but Beijing pushed back, stating that "the Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend China's national sovereignty, security and development interests."
