China Imposes Sanctions On Seven Taiwan ‘Secessionist’ Officials

China says it is blacklisting seven Taiwan officials over their alleged support for the self-ruled island’s independence.<br />The group will be banned from entering mainland China and the territories of Hong Kong and Macau, and restricted from working with Chinese officials.<br />The seven officials targeted by Beijing include Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan’s representative in the United States.<br />Xinhua says the punitive measures were necessary to safeguard the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations and the immediate interests of the people on both sides of the Strait.