On September 25, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Sanctioning Aggressors of the Chinese Communist Party and Persecutors Act” (H.R. 3334, also known as the “Stop CCP Aggression Act”) by a vote of 243 to 174.
This bill authorizes the United States to impose sanctions on individuals involved in infringing on Hong Kong’s autonomy, violating the rights of Taiwanese people, and participating in political persecution and human rights abuses against individuals and groups within mainland China, including the prominent targeting of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese Communist Party.
The sanctioned behaviors include:
(1) Infringement on Hong Kong’s autonomy;
(2) Acts that harass, intimidate, or escalate aggression against the people of Taiwan;
(3) Involvement in political persecution or human rights abuses against individuals or social groups within China (including Uyghur Muslims).
The targets of the sanctions include:
(1) Members of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee involved in the aforementioned behaviors;
(2) Members of any subsequent institutions following the dissolution of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee involved in the aforementioned behaviors;
(3) Adult family members of individuals mentioned in (1) or (2), including spouses or adult family members of spouses.
The sanctions measures include:
1. Freezing of assets;
2. Revocation of visas, barring entry to the United States, and rescinding any other benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The initiator of this bill, Federal Representative Lisa McClain, stated during the House plenary session on September 25 that the goal of the Chinese Communist leaders is to “have communism blanket the world. We are the people standing in his way.”
Federal Representative James Moylan said during the plenary session, “This bill targets the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee. As the main decision-makers of the party, the Central Committee directs the Party’s abusive and aggressive behavior… It is crucial to hold these high-level party leaders accountable with targeted sanctions.” Currently, the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee has 205 members.
The U.S. President can waive the sanctions established by this bill under the following circumstances:
(A) The Chinese Communist Party ceases acts of genocide against Uyghur Muslim individuals;
(B) The Chinese Communist Party ceases all threats, military exercises, and aggression against Taiwan;
(C) The Chinese Communist Party ceases actions that undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy, including respecting the terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and withdrawing all measures interfering with Hong Kong’s democratic process and governance;
(D) The Chinese Communist Party ceases acts of stealing American intellectual property.
Sanctions may also be waived if the individual subject to sanctions has explicitly renounced their membership in the Chinese Communist Party and taken active measures to condemn or correct the Party’s persecution policies.
This bill is still pending a vote in the U.S. Senate and would need the signature of the U.S. President to take effect.