The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) learned today that NED’s Senior Director for Asia John Knaus, along with colleagues from NED partner the National Democratic Institute, was singled out with a threat of unspecified sanctions by the government of China.
The Endowment and its president Carl Gershman were the target of similar action in August 2020, which had no impact on NED operations or our support for those who seek to advance democratic values in China. “The MFA’s announcement of sanctions against a NED employee will have no effect on NED efforts to provide assistance and solidarity to those working for freedom and human rights in China,” said NED spokeswoman Jane Riley Jacobsen.
