China's move to sanction former Trump administration officials was "unproductive and cynical", a spokeswoman for President Joe Biden's National Security Council said, urging Americans from both parties to condemn the action.

Around the time Joe Biden was sworn in as President on Wednesday, local time, China announced sanctions against "lying and cheating" outgoing secretary of state Mike Pompeo and 27 other top officials under former president Donald Trump — a striking repudiation of its relationship with Washington under Mr Trump.

China's Foreign Ministry said Mr Pompeo and the others had "planned, promoted and executed" moves that had interfered in its internal affairs.

It banned the ex-officials and immediate family members from entering China, and restricted companies associated with them from doing business in the country.

Where is Hunter in all this?!