CHINA has fulfilled its warning that a Taiwanese presidential visit to the US would have consequences by issuing retaliatory sanctions today.

After Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the measures.

The Reagan Library and the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, were sanctioned for “providing a platform and convenience to Taiwan separatist activities.” 

Chinese institutions are now barred from having any co-operation or contact with the bodies.

They also cited Sarah May Stern, chair of the Hudson Institute board of directors; John P Walters, the institute's director; John Heubusch, former executive director of the Reagan Foundation; and Joanne M Drake, the foundation’s chief administrator.

The ministry said they were barred from visiting China and any property or financial assets belonging to them in China would be frozen.

“We will take resolute measures to punish the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and their actions, and resolutely safeguard our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement on Thursday.

In addition, two groups in Asia — the Prospect Foundation and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats — were sanctioned for their involvement in promoting Taiwan independence “under the guise of academic and research exchanges,” said office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian.

Separately, the office also announced further sanctions on Hsiao Bi-khim, a Taiwanese representative in the US.

Beijing and Taipei both officially style themselves the legitimate governments of all China and countries may only recognise one or the other government — the so-called One China policy.

The US acknowledges this and does not formally recognise the Taiwanese government, but maintains close unofficial ties and continues to arm it.