China has announced sanctions on top Republicans after the US imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province.
Among those targeted are senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, both outspoken critics of China.
The nature of the sanctions is unclear.
China is accused of detaining more than a million Uighurs and others in Xinjiang but China denies abuses in the far-western region.
Ted Cruz is a senator for Texas while Marco Rubio represents Florida. The pair competed with Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
China also imposed sanctions on Republican congressman Chris Smith; Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback; and a government agency, the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
The foreign ministry said the move was in response to America’s “wrong actions”.
“We urge the US to immediately withdraw its wrong decision, and stop any words and actions that interfere in China’s internal affairs and harm China’s interests,” spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
She gave no details what the sanctions entailed but added: “China will make a further response depending on the development of the situation.”