According to a source, China penalises seven officials from Taiwan for advocating independence

According to Tuesday’s state-run media, China has punished seven Taiwanese officials for advocating for Taiwan’s independence.

The measures were put in place after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier this month, which China claimed sent the incorrect message to the island’s secessionists.

Taiwan, which is democratically self-governing, opposes China’s assertion of its own dominion.

Taiwan Affairs Office of China has reportedly sanctioned persons including Wellington Koo, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, and Hsiao Bi-khim, the de facto Taiwan ambassador to Washington, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Sanctions were also imposed on representatives of the Democratic Progressive Party, which currently controls Taiwan.

People who have been sanctioned cannot go to China, Hong Kong, or Macau, according to a representative for the Taiwan Affairs Office. Their affiliated businesses and investors won’t be permitted to make money in China either.

Along with the seven, Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and Speaker of the Parliament You Si-kun have all previously faced Chinese sanctions.