BEIJING: China sanctioned seven Taiwanese officials for supporting Taiwan independence, the state media reported on Tuesday. The sanctions came after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier this month, a move that China said had sent a wrong signal to pro-independence forces on the island.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua said that among those sanctioned by China's Taiwan Affairs Office are Hsiao Bi-khim, the de facto Taiwan ambassador to Washington, and Wellington Koo, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council.
Politicians from Taiwan's ruling political party, Democratic Progressive Party, were also sanctioned.
A Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman said that those sanctioned would not be able to visit China, Hong Kong and Macao. In China, firms and investors that are related to them will not be allowed to profit.
The seven are added to Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang, foreign minister Joseph Wu and parliament speaker You Si-kun who were previously sanctioned.