Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian (Photo: VOV)

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing on Monday that those sanctioned include Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz who, China said, behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues. The relevant actions of the US blatantly intervened in Hong Kong affairs, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and seriously violated international law and the basic norms of international relations, Zhao said.

The US said Friday that it was placing sanctions on 11 Chinese officials and their allies in Hong Kong, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam, over their roles in curtailing political freedoms in the former British colony.