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China has said it will impose sanctions on 11 US citizens including senators and other high profile officials. 

The sanctions come in response to a decision by the US to sanction 11 Chinese officials and allies in Hong Kong for curtailing political freedoms, BBC News reports. 

Among those targeted by China were Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and Kenneth Roth, the executive director of charity Human Rights Watch.

China did not target any officials from the Trump administration.

Also on the list were Senators Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley and Pat Toomey and Representative Chris Smith - all Republicans - as well as other individuals from non-profit organisations and rights groups.

China said the sanctions were a direct response to those levied by the US against officials in Hong Kong.

"In response to those wrong US behaviours, China has decided to impose sanctions on individuals who have behaved egregiously on Hong Kong-related issues," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.

He did not specify any details of the sanctions.

China had already announced sanctions last month against Mr Rubio and Mr Cruz and other officials, after the US heavily criticised Beijing for its treatment of the Uighur ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and said it would sanction top officials of the Chinese communist party.