US imposes sanctions over rights abuses, targets China and Iranian officials

The United States has imposed sanctions on dozens of people and entities over alleged rights abuses, including Chinese nationals and Iranian officials.

The US Treasury Department yesterday said it imposed sanctions on Li Zhenyu and Zhuo Xinrong, both Chinese nationals, and 10 entities linked to the them, including Nasdaq-listed Pingtan Marine Enterprise (PME) over human rights abuses tied to China-based illegal fishing. The designation of PME marks the first time the US has imposed sanctions on an entity listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Washington also targeted 157 China-flagged fishing vessels linked to the



sanctioned entities.

President Joe Biden in June signed a national security memorandum to fight illegal fishing.Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson, said in a statement that these designations demonstrate how seriously US take the problem of illicit fishing and their commitment to holding the perpetrators of serious human rights abuses to account.

In separate action, the Treasury also designated 40 individuals and entities connected to alleged human rights abuse or corruption across nine countries, including China and Iran.