China has announced retaliatory sanctions against individuals in the United States and Canada in an increasing discussion about allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang province.
The sanctions against the chairman of the United States International Religious Liberty Commission and a Canadian legislator were made in response to the penalties announced a week ago by the United States and China, measures that were “based on rumors and disinformation,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Affairs of China in a statement posted on its website on Saturday.
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 its mistakes,” the ministry said.
The measures increased tension with the West after several countries imposed sanctions on China for allegations of abuse of ethnic minority Uighurs in Xinjiang province. Beijing denies such accusations, routinely dismissing them as lies.
“They must stop political manipulation on issues related to Xinjiang, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs in any way and prevent the rain from going the wrong way,” the statement said. “Otherwise, they will have their fingers burned.”
The sanctions are aimed at USCIRF President Gayle Manchin, wife of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin; USCIRF Vice President Tony Perkins; Canadian MP Michael Chong and the International Human Rights Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs committee of the Canadian Parliament.
Interested parties are prohibited from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau, while Chinese citizens and institutions are prohibited from doing business with individuals and maintaining exchanges with the committee. China’s previous sanctions against US individuals “that have seriously undermined China’s sovereignty and interests in matters related to Xinjiang remain effective,” the ministry said.
China sanctioned European politicians and a think tank earlier this week, including a German and French member of the European Parliament and a former leader of the ruling British Conservative Party.
– With the help of Charles Capel
(Updates with names of targeted people and organizations, quotes from Chinese statement.)