China Sanctions Former Chairman of House Select Committee on CCP

Then-Rep. Mike Gallagher speaks during a press conference in Washington, on Nov. 15, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Tuesday announced sanctions against former Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who was a vocal critic of communist China before leaving Congress.

Mr. Gallagher, who represented Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District from 2017 until he stepped down in April, was once the chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP. During his tenure at the committee’s top post, he spoke out on many issues relating to China, including the U.S. fentanyl crisis, infiltration operations in the United States, threats posed by the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok, human rights violations, and threats against U.S. allies including Taiwan.

On May 21, China’s foreign ministry issued a statement announcing sanctions against Mr. Gallagher. The ministry accused the former lawmaker of having “frequently interfered in China’s internal affairs, undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and infringed on China’s interests” in recent years, without going into detail on what he had allegedly done.

Under the sanctions, Mr. Gallagher will be banned from entering China and barred from various exchanges with Chinese organizations and individuals. The ministry will also freeze any assets he holds in China.

In response to the sanctions, Mr. Gallagher issued a statement on Tuesday highlighting the differences between the United States and the CCP.

“These sanctions reveal at least two important things about the CCP and the New Cold War,” Mr. Gallagher stated. “First, we are dealing with a perpetually paranoid, Marxist-Leninist regime fully committed to an ‘extended struggle’ and victory against such hostile foreign forces as Western constitutional democracy, universal human rights, and freedom of speech.”

“Second, there is no moral equivalence between the CCP and America,” he continued. “We sanction CCP officials for committing genocide and trafficking deadly fentanyl precursor chemicals. They sanction American officials for speaking their mind, or seeking truth from facts, to borrow a phrase.”

As for being banned from traveling to China, Mr. Gallagher said he would like another trip to Taiwan.

“Additionally, the irony of this is that for over a year, the CCP and its American apologists have criticized me for traveling to Taiwan instead of China,” he stated. “Now, I’m not allowed to travel to China. I shall instead look forward to returning to Taiwan in the near future to discuss how we can enhance peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

“As the CCP attempts to silence defenders of freedom, we should continue to shine a light on the CCP’s growing authoritarian repression at home and aggression abroad and stand firm in promoting the security, freedom, and prosperity of America and its allies.”

In February, Mr. Gallagher led a congressional delegation to Taiwan and met with then-President Tsai Ing-wen and current President Lai Ching-te. During a press conference at the time, he applauded Ms. Tsai “for not only being an incredible leader here in Taiwan, but really distinguishing yourself as a leader within the free world.”

The Chinese foreign ministry’s announcement came a day after Mr. Lai was sworn in. During his inaugural speech, Mr. Lai called on China to stop its political and military intimidation tactics against Taiwan, while adding that the island nation and the communist regime in China “are not subordinate to each other.”

The CCP claims Taiwan as a part of its territory and is preparing its military for a potential conflict over the island. Taiwan, a de facto independent nation, has been racing to increase its military readiness in recent years.

Last week, Mr. Gallagher joined the Washington-based conservative think tank Hudson Institute as a distinguished fellow.

John Walters, president and CEO of the Hudson Institute, took to social media platform X to say that “it is a badge of honor to be sanctioned by the #CCP.”

“Thank you @RepGallagher for standing with our allies in Taipei and working to enhance peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Mr. Walters wrote.

China’s sanctions also prompted a response from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a global coalition of lawmakers.

“IPAC stands in solidarity with former member, Mike Gallagher, unjustly targeted by Beijing for his effective leadership in confronting challenges posed by the PRC. We know these sanctions will do nothing to deter his essential work,” the group wrote in an X post on Tuesday.