Beijing sent a top official sanctioned by the U.S. to an American Chamber of Commerce in China dinner Thursday, in a show of defiance that could feed criticism of the business group in Washington.
The Chinese government was represented at the annual event in Beijing by Wang Chen, a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo. Wang is also vice chairman of the National People’s Congress and among the 14 officials sanctioned by the U.S. on Monday over the body’s role in constraining freedoms in Hong Kong.
China often designates a representative with an economically focused portfolio, such as Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, the guest at last year’s dinner. Wang spent much of his career in various propaganda roles, including a stint as editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily, the party’s top mouthpiece.