The U.S. should sanction Chinese Ministry of State Security officials, to include domestic intelligence bureau chiefs, in response to the nation's ongoing detention of two Canadians.

The Canadians, a former diplomat and businessman, are being held unjustly in response to Canada's just detention of Meng Wanzhou. Meng, an executive of the Chinese technology giant, Huawei, faces U.S. federal fraud charges.

There are two important principles at stake here. First, the U.S. interest in supporting a close ally as it acts in support of the U.S. Second, the need to maintain an adversarial posture with Beijing, even as we seek a more constructive relationship. These interests are fueled by China's arrogance in defending its detention of the Canadians. In an editorial on Thursday, the Chinese state media outlet, Global Times, asserted that "[c]ommon sense tells us that it is legitimate for China to investigate two Canadians in accordance with the law, no matter what information the Chinese security department makes public, and regardless of public opinion speculation."

Here we see the Chinese ruling elites in their purest form: with utter disregard for individual freedom and utter deference to the authoritarian center. It is arrogant and immoral. More than that, it speaks to China's grave challenge to U.S. international order. Of course, China is also clear how it expects this situation to play out. The Global Times editorial notes, "It is quite simple to end the crisis between China and Canada by giving back Meng's complete freedom."

China must not be given that concession, at least not until it offers meaningful concessions on over its rampant theft of intellectual property. But there's more at stake here than the principle of justice: Meng's credible criminality and the absent evidence of criminality by the two Canadians. Because if China believes it can escape escalating U.S. pressure by grabbing the nearest available hostages, it will not abide by basic rules of international commerce. Put simply, China must know that it cannot play this game on its terms.

Fortunately, the U.S. has a good position from which to play hardball here. Because the Trump administration has already thrown Chinese President Xi Jinping's government off balance. A good example of this can be seen by another Global Times op-ed this week, which wailed about the increasing obstacles Chinese scientists face in accessing U.S. research institutions. The op-ed claims the new U.S. stance is evidence of a new "McCarthyism." The reality, of course, is that the U.S. stance is evidence of realism.

China must know that America will not bow here. We have Beijing off balance — that's why it's time to double down right now.