WASHINGTON: China said on Friday (Jul 10) it would take "reciprocal measures" against the United States after Washington imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses against the Uighur Muslim minority.
Beijing described the new US sanctions as "deeply detrimental" to mutual relations, already strained by differences over China's handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak and its tightening grip on Hong Kong.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Washington imposed sanctions on the autonomous region of Xinjiang's Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, a member of China's powerful Politburo, and three other officials.
A senior US administration official described Chen as the highest ranking Chinese official that the United States has sanctioned.
The decision is "no joke," the US official said. "Not only in terms of symbolic and reputational affect, but it does have real meaning on a person's ability to move around the world and conduct business."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing the US decision was a serious interference in Chinese affairs.
Advertisement
Advertisement
"In light of these wrong actions, China will impose reciprocal measures on US officials and organizations that have displayed egregious behaviour on human rights in relation to Xinjiang affairs," Zhao said.
"We urge the US to correct this wrong decision. If the US continues to proceed, China will take firm countermeasures."
READ: Beijing threatens consequences over 'malicious' US Uighur law
Washington's sanctions were imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the US government to target human rights violators worldwide by freezing any US assets, banning US travel and prohibiting Americans from doing business with them.
Sanctions were also imposed on Zhu Hailun, deputy secretary of the regional legislative body, the Xinjiang's People's Congress; Wang Mingshan, the director and Communist Party secretary of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau; and the former party secretary of the bureau, Huo Liujun.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was also barring Chen, Zhu, Wang and their immediate families, and other unnamed Chinese Communist Party officials, from traveling to the United States.
EXILE GROUP WELCOMES SANCTIONS
The World Uyghur Congress, the main exile group, welcomed the move and urged the European Union and other countries to follow suit.
US Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who sponsored legislation signed by President Donald Trump in June that calls for sanctions over the repression of Uighurs, told Reuters the move was "long overdue" and that more steps were needed.
The Associated Press reported last month that China was trying to slash birth rates amongst Uighurs with forced birth control. China denounced the report as fabricated.
Despite Trump's public remarks about Beijing, former Read More – Source
WASHINGTON: China said on Friday (Jul 10) it would take "reciprocal measures" against the United States after Washington imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses against the Uighur Muslim minority.
Beijing described the new US sanctions as "deeply detrimental" to mutual relations, already strained by differences over China's handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak and its tightening grip on Hong Kong.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Washington imposed sanctions on the autonomous region of Xinjiang's Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, a member of China's powerful Politburo, and three other officials.
A senior US administration official described Chen as the highest ranking Chinese official that the United States has sanctioned.
The decision is "no joke," the US official said. "Not only in terms of symbolic and reputational affect, but it does have real meaning on a person's ability to move around the world and conduct business."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing the US decision was a serious interference in Chinese affairs.
Advertisement
Advertisement
"In light of these wrong actions, China will impose reciprocal measures on US officials and organizations that have displayed egregious behaviour on human rights in relation to Xinjiang affairs," Zhao said.
"We urge the US to correct this wrong decision. If the US continues to proceed, China will take firm countermeasures."
READ: Beijing threatens consequences over 'malicious' US Uighur law
Washington's sanctions were imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the US government to target human rights violators worldwide by freezing any US assets, banning US travel and prohibiting Americans from doing business with them.
Sanctions were also imposed on Zhu Hailun, deputy secretary of the regional legislative body, the Xinjiang's People's Congress; Wang Mingshan, the director and Communist Party secretary of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau; and the former party secretary of the bureau, Huo Liujun.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was also barring Chen, Zhu, Wang and their immediate families, and other unnamed Chinese Communist Party officials, from traveling to the United States.
EXILE GROUP WELCOMES SANCTIONS
The World Uyghur Congress, the main exile group, welcomed the move and urged the European Union and other countries to follow suit.
US Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who sponsored legislation signed by President Donald Trump in June that calls for sanctions over the repression of Uighurs, told Reuters the move was "long overdue" and that more steps were needed.
The Associated Press reported last month that China was trying to slash birth rates amongst Uighurs with forced birth control. China denounced the report as fabricated.
Despite Trump's public remarks about Beijing, former Read More – Source
