The United States sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials who it alleged were involved in “transnational repression” and acts that threaten to further erode the southern Chinese city’s autonomy

The U.S. on Monday sanctioned six senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials for "transnational repression" and further eroding the autonomy of Hong Kong, in the first major move by the Trump administration to punish China over its crackdown on the city.

Beijing has warned of “strong and resolute” countermeasures against fresh sanctions imposed on six mainland and Hong Kong officials by the United States. In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, the Commissioner’s Office of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong accused Washington of smearing the “One Country,