US lines up sanctions, expulsions to punish China

WASHINGTON: Expulsion of Chinese students and researchers from American universities and sanctions against Chinese officials are among the steps being considered by the Trump administration as Washington ties with Beijing continue to slide downhill. The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has now crossed the grim milestone of 100,000 lives lost.

“All over the world the CoronaVirus, a very bad “gift” from China, marches on. Not good!” US President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday as US lawmakers voted 413-1 to send him a legislation that if he signs could result in sanctions against Chinese officials for the detention and torture of Uighur Muslims in the country’s western region of Xinjiang.

Separately, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo reiterated US support for anti-government protestors in Hong Kong and said state department no longer viewed the territory as autonomous, a move that could result in revocation