US Imposes Sanctions on China’s Human Rights Abusers

Washington D.C. - The United States has taken a series of steps to address China’s systemic human rights abuses, using its three lists of sanctioned entities to target those responsible for the violations.

Using Economic Leverage to Promote Human Rights and Democracy

According to a recent report, at least 145 entities listed on the Entity List are subsidiaries of companies designated on the Commerce Mitigation Initiative Company (CMIC) list. This overlap highlights the US government’s efforts to use economic leverage to promote human rights and democracy in China.

The CMIC and Entity Lists: How They Work

The CMIC list, maintained by the Department of Commerce, targets entities that engage in activities contrary to US national security or foreign policy interests. On the other hand, the Entity List, managed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), prohibits transactions with specific individuals and companies deemed to be involved in human rights violations.

Targeted Sanctions on Chinese Officials and Entities

In addition to these lists, the US has also imposed targeted sanctions on Chinese officials and entities responsible for human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The sanctions have been met with significant backlash from China, which has retaliated against EU officials and disintegrated a major bilateral investment deal.

Experts Weigh In: Escalating Tensions or Promoting Human Rights?

Experts warn that the US’s willingness to use its most stringent financial sanctions to target large and globally prominent Chinese firms could escalate tensions between the two nations. However, many argue that this approach is necessary to promote human rights and democracy in China.

“We are not seeing the kind of aggressive use of SDN listings we would expect from a country like the US,” said Dr. [Name], an expert on international relations. “But we do see technology restrictions being used much more aggressively, which could have significant implications for China’s military modernization and human rights abuses.”

Building a Broader Consensus

As the US continues to navigate its complex relationship with China, experts say that building a broader consensus among allies and partners will be critical for ensuring the long-term durability and political legitimacy of its strategy.

Methodology

The report uses data from the OFAC website search function and a database compiled by the Center for a New American Security to count current SDN, CMIC, and Entity List numbers. Sanction designations often overlap with several different sanctioning authorities, including country-specific and thematic sanctions programs.