China has sanctioned 11 Americans, including senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, in revenge for the similar US moves prompted by Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong.

Washington which last week announced plans to freeze their US assets has accused 11 officials of suppressing “freedom and democratic processes” in Hong Kong, including city leader Carrie Lam. This was actually the toughest US action yet in response to Beijing’s introduction of a sweeping and controversial new national security law for the territory.

The foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian who is yet to give full detail on what the sanctions would entail today said Beijing the measure was a violation of international law and “grossly interferes in China’s internal affair adding that China has decided to impose sanctions on some people that behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues with Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth and National Endowment for Democracy president Carl Gershman not escaping the list.