Earlier this week Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), accompanied by a bipartisan group of legislators, met with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-Wen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Of course, China was not pleased with that, and now they’ve announced sanctions against the Library and two of its officials. In addition, China announced sanctions against the Hudson Institute and two of its officials, who also met with the Taiwanese delegation recently.

On Thursday China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson was asked about the meeting, and said:

The US acts with Taiwan to connive at “Taiwan independence” separatists’ political activities in the US, conduct official contact with Taiwan and upgrade the substantive relations with Taiwan, and frame it as a “transit”. This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués. It seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends an egregiously wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. China will take strong and resolute measures to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The official statement is posted on the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles website:

In disregard of China’s repeated representations and firm opposition, the United States allowed Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Taiwan region, to “transit” in the U.S. and engage in political activities there from 29 to 31 March and from 4 to 6 April 2023. Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum provided platform and facilitation for Tsai Ing-wen’s “Taiwan independence” separatist activities in the U.S. It is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, and a grave infringement upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Pursuant to Articles 4, 5, 6 and 15 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China decides to take the following countermeasures against the institutions and individuals as listed in the attached List of Targets of Countermeasures, including Hudson Institute, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum and their leaders.

1. For the two institutions, i.e., Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum:

All universities, institutes and other organizations, and individuals within China shall be strictly prohibited from engaging in transaction, exchange, cooperation and other activities with them.

1. For the four individuals, i.e., Sarah May Stern, Chair of the Hudson Institute Board of Trustees; John P. Walters, President and CEO of Hudson Institute; John Heubusch, former Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum; and Joanne M. Drake, Chief Administrative Officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute:

1. All of their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen.

2. All organizations and individuals within China shall be prohibited from engaging in transaction, cooperation and other activities with them.

3. They shall be denied visas or entry into China.

This decision shall come into force as of 7 April 2023.

The appendix lists each individual’s name, gender, and position.

David Trulio, the new CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, issued a statement Friday morning defending its decision to host the meeting, saying that “We will not shy away from living up to President Reagan’s expectation that the Foundation and Institute bearing his name be a ‘dynamic intellectual forum.'”

https://t.co/qa5egHAna8

>> #ronaldreagan #reaganlibrary #reaganfoundationandinstitute pic.twitter.com/pJ5sd4NJli

— The Reagan Foundation and Institute (@RonaldReagan) April 7, 2023

Now we’ve seen what decisive action against people and groups considered to be acting in opposition to a country’s national interest looks like. It’s time for Joe Biden to take similar action against Chinese operatives and companies in the United States.