The United States on Friday imposed extensive sanctions and visa bans on dozens of people and entities tied to China, Myanmar, North Korea and Bangladesh, DW reports.
This action was carried out to mark Human Rights Day. Five other countries, including Russia, were also targeted by the punitive measures.
Canada and the United Kingdom joined the US in imposing sanctions related to human rights abuses in Myanmar. The US also imposed new sanctions on North Korea.
"Our actions today, particularly those in partnership with the United Kingdom and Canada, send a message that democracies around the world will act against those who abuse the power of the state to inflict suffering and repression," Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.
China's embassy in Washington denounced the move, saying it represented "serious interference in China's internal affairs” and a "severe violation of basic norms governing international relations.”
The measures are the latest of US sanctions timed to coincide with US President Joe Biden's two-day virtual Summit for Democracy.
Biden said at the summit that commitments from more than 100 world leaders would help push back against rising autocracy. "This is going to help seed fertile ground for democracy to bloom around the world,” Biden said in a speech at the summit.
