BEIJING (Reuters) – China sanctioned British organizations and individuals on Friday for what it called “lies and misinformation” about Xinjiang, days after Britain imposed sanctions for human rights abuses in western China.
Britain’s government has condemned the measure as an attempt by Beijing to stifle criticism, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying he sympathized with those affected.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it sanctioned four entities and nine individuals, including lawmakers such as former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith and the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, that “spread lies and misinformation maliciously”.
Targeted individuals and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering Chinese territory, the ministry said, adding that Chinese citizens and institutions would be prohibited from doing business with them.
The move is in retaliation for a coordinated set of sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, Britain and Canada against Beijing for what they call human rights violations against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. Beijing has already applied retaliatory sanctions against the EU that were in line with Friday’s announcement.
“China is firmly determined to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and warns the UK not to go further on the wrong track,” said the Chinese ministry. “Otherwise, China will resolutely react further.”
The sanctions are the latest sign of deteriorating relations between London and Beijing. The two exchanged angry words on a number of issues, including China’s reforms in the former British colony of Hong Kong and China’s trade policy.
One of the sanctioned lawmakers, Duncan Smith, said he used sanctions as an “emblem of honor”.
Prime Minister Johnson tweeted to express his solidarity with those affected.
“MPs (members of parliament) and other British citizens sanctioned by China today are playing a vital role in illuminating the serious human rights violations perpetrated against Uighur Muslims,” he wrote.
“The freedom to oppose abuse is fundamental and I am firmly with them.”
Earlier this month, Britain published a review of foreign policy that outlined its ambitions to gain more influence in the Indo-Pacific region as a way to moderate China’s growing global power, but acknowledged that it must work with Beijing on issues commercial and global as climate change.
Britain’s Burberry has been hit in recent days by a Chinese reaction against Western accusations of abuse in Xinjiang.
UN rights activists and experts say at least one million Muslims have been detained in camps in Xinjiang. Activists and some Western politicians accuse China of using torture, forced labor and sterilization. China has repeatedly denied all allegations of abuse and says its camps offer vocational training and are needed to fight extremism.
“It looks like I’m being sanctioned by the PRC (Chinese) government for telling the truth about the #Uyghur tragedy in #Xinjiang and for having a conscience,” said Jo Smith Finley, Uighur expert at Newcastle University, on Twitter.
“Well, so be it. I do not regret speaking openly and I will not be silenced. “
Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei, William James in London, Se Young Lee in Washington and Gabriel Crossley in Beijing; Editing by Richard Pullin, Karishma Singh and Nick Macfie