西方一些國家出於遏制中國的目的，肆意揮舞「制裁」大棒，粗暴干涉中國內政，但這種「單邊制裁」即將遭到法律反制。全國人大常委會正審議《中華人民共和國反外國制裁法（草案）》，法律通過後，任何膽敢制裁中國的國家需為此付出沉重代價。
一段時間以來，某些西方國家出於政治操弄的需要和意識形態的偏見，利用涉疆涉港的各種藉口對中國進行造謠污衊和遏制打壓，更公然違反國際法和國際關係基本準則，依據其本國法律對中國有關國家機關、組織和國家工作人員實施所謂「制裁」。中方對這種霸權主義行徑予以嚴厲譴責，也多次宣布對有關國家的實體和個人實施相應反制措施。
以其人之道還治其人之身，這是「回敬」西方霸權的最好方式。今年全國「兩會」期間，全國人大代表、全國政協委員和社會各界紛紛提出意見和建議，認為國家有必要制定一部專門的反外國制裁法，為我國依法反制外國歧視性措施提供有力的法治支撐和保障。有關建議得到採納，十三屆全國人大四次會議批准的人大常委會工作報告，在「今後一年的主要任務」中明確提出，圍繞反制裁、反干涉、反制長臂管轄等，充實應對挑戰、防範風險的法律「工具箱」。
這部法律的制訂具有重要意義。首先，反制西方制裁有了明確的法律依據。中國人不惹事，但也不怕事，只有在遭到外國無理制裁時才作出反制。以往的反制手段及措施相對單一，相關法律通過後，可以擁有充分的法律授權，對外國的制裁進行對等的反制。有法有據，有理有節，可以產生足夠的震懾力。
其次，展現了中國捍衛國家主權、尊嚴和國家發展利益的堅定決心。不難發現，「制裁」中國的那些國家，多是過去曾欺凌中國的西方列強，但現在的中國不是一八四○年鴉片戰爭的大清，也不是一九三一年日本可以隨意對華發動戰爭的民國舊時代，中華人民共和國足夠強大，中國人忍氣吞聲的時代一去不復返。數十年前中國在非常貧窮落後的情況下，尚且有決心、有能力保家衛國，更何況是在中國崛起的新時代？
港人堅定擁護反制裁法的出台，因為香港正是西方制裁的主要受害者。前年修例風波後，美國當局肆無忌憚地揮舞制裁大棒，包括行政長官在內的一些主要官員都遭到野蠻「制裁」，一些香港企業也成為打擊的對象。可以說，港人對此深惡痛絕。特首林鄭月娥昨日也表示堅定支持法律的通過。
反華勢力對中國的反制裁一開始大驚小怪，因為在潛意識中，只有他們欺負別人，別人則不能反擊。然而，習慣成自然，當霸權國家及強權政治一次又一次遭到中國依法反制裁後，終會適應國際新秩序，也只有讓他們感到疼、成本大於得益時，才有可能停止制裁式挑釁。
2021-06-09
Giving certain Western countries a taste of their own medicine
Aiming at containing China, some Western countries are wantonly brandishing the big stick of "sanction" to brutally interfere in China's internal affairs. But such "unilateral sanctions" will soon be countered following the law. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) is deliberating the draft Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China. After the law is adopted, any country daring to impose any sanction on China will have to pay a heavy price.
For some time, certain Western countries, out of their need for political manipulation and of their ideological biases, have been making use of all sorts of pretexts, such as issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, to fabricate rumours to smear China for the purpose of containment and suppression. They have even gone so far as to undisguisedly violate international laws and basic norms governing international relations by imposing so-called "sanctions" on some of China's state organs, organisations and state functionaries based on their own domestic laws. The Chinese side has sternly condemned such a hegemonic act and announced once and again counter measures against relevant agencies and individuals of the concerned countries.
The best way to give Western hegemony "tit-for-tat" is to give them a taste of their own medicine. During this year's "Two Annual Sessions" [of the NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)], NPC deputies and CPPCC members and personages from various social sectors had expressed their views and made their proposals one after another, that our country should specially legislate a law against foreign sanctions so as to provide powerful legal support and protection for our country to counter discriminatory measures taken by foreign countries. The suggestion was adopted. The Report on the Work of the Standing Committee of the NPC approved by the 4th Session of the 13th NPC, spelt it out clearly in [the section of] Our Main Tasks for the Coming Year that "We will upgrade our legal tool kit for meeting challenges and guarding against risks in order to oppose foreign sanctions, interference, and long-arm jurisdiction".
Legislation of such a law is of important significance. First of all, it provides an unambiguous legal ground against Western sanctions. The Chinese people do not stir up troubles, but we never flinch when trouble comes our way. We retaliate only when foreign countries impose unreasonable sanctions on us. So far our means and measures to counter foreign sanctions are relatively single. After the adoption of the law, there will be full legal authorisation to reciprocally retaliate against foreign sanctions. In this way, our retaliations will be on a legal ground, with good reason and with rational restraint, and as such will have a sufficient deterrent.
Secondly, this demonstrates China's firm determination to safeguard national sovereignty, dignity and development interests. It is not hard to verify that those countries imposing sanctions on China are Western powers which had bullied China in the past. But today's China is not the Qing Empire during the 1840 Opium War, nor is it in the old Republic era when Japan could wage a war at will against China in 1931. The People's Republic of China (PRC) is now strong enough, and gone forever is the era when the Chinese people had to swallow insult and humiliation silently. Even several decades ago when it was very poor and backward China already had the determination and capability to protect our homes and defend our country, let alone toady when it is on the rise in a New Era.
Hong Kong people firmly support the legislation of the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, because Hong Kong is exactly a major victim of Western sanctions. Following the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Incident two years ago, the United States authorities recklessly brandish the big stick of sanction. Some principal officials of the SAR including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor are "sanctioned" brutally, and some Hong Kong enterprises also fall prey to the U.S. act. It may be said that Hong Kong people harbour intense detest for this. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor yesterday also expressed her firm support for the legislation of this law.
Anti-China forces have made a big fuss over China's anti-sanction moves from the outset. For, in their sub-consciousness, only they themselves can bully others and the latter must never strike back. Nevertheless, habit is second nature. Hegemonic states and power politics will eventually have to become adaptive to a new international order after they are again and again retaliated by China's lawful anti-sanction moves. Only when they are made to fell hurt and realise that the cost outweighs the benefit, can they possibly stop making provocations with sanctions.
09 June 2021
