Reuters quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hoa Xuan Doanh as saying that "sanctions" against the four US officials will start on July 13, and did not comment further.
The sanctions list includes Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both Republican lawmakers who have been harshly critical of China. In addition, the sanctions list includes Republican lawmakers Sam Brownback, Chris Smith and the National Assembly's Executive Committee on China.
The move comes three days after the US sanctioned a Chinese Politburo member and three other officials under the Magnitsky Act for human rights violations in Xinjiang.
"The US actions seriously interfere in China's internal affairs, seriously violate the basic rules of international relations and seriously damage China-US relations. China will have further responses based on the progress of the situation, spokesperson Hoa Xuan Doanh told reporters at a daily press conference.
The Chinese officials sanctioned by the US include Politburo member, Xinjiang Party Secretary Tran Toan Quoc, Xinjiang Deputy Secretary Chu Hai Luan, Director and Secretary of the Xinjiang Public Security Party Committee Vuong Minh Son, and former Secretary of the Xinjiang Public Security Party Committee Hoac Luu Quan.
Both the US move and China's response are largely symbolic, as both groups of officials do not seem to have much financial or legal contact with each other's countries.
