China has sanctioned a number of US and Canadian officials in response to increased tension as Western nations denounce alleged human rights violations of the Uighur population in Xinjiang province.
Among those who received sanctions are Gayle Manchin, chairman of the United States government’s Consultative Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and Tony Perkins, vice president. Manchin is also the wife of Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va.
China also sanctioned Canadian official Michael Chong, vice president of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), along with the eight members of the FAAE’s Subcommittee on International Human Rights.
“The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and urges the relevant parties to clearly understand the situation and correct their mistakes,” said China’s Foreign Ministry on sanctions, according to Reuters.
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Those who have been sanctioned will not be allowed in China, Hong Kong or Macau, and Chinese citizens cannot communicate with them.
The United States, Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom have come together to enact their own sanctions against Chinese authorities for abuses by the Muslim minority population.
Many nations, including the United States, have labeled China’s treatment of Uighurs as genocide. China has denied any human rights violations and has told other countries to stop meddling in its internal affairs.
The sanctions came after tense bilateral negotiations with Biden government officials and Chinese officials in Alaska last week.
The White House said the government continues to “have grave concerns about crimes against humanity and the genocide in China” against Uighurs.
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During Thursday’s meeting, Blinken said the Biden government is united with its allies to fight China’s growing authoritarianism and assertiveness at home and abroad. Chinese Communist Party head of foreign affairs Yang Jiechi released a list of Chinese complaints about the United States and accused Washington of hypocrisy for criticizing Beijing on human rights and other issues.