Politics

China announces sanctions on US, Canadian politicians

(Update 1: Adds details)

Shanghai, China, Mar 27 (efe-epa).- China on Saturday imposed sanctions on three politicians from the United States and Canada as well as a Canadian Parliament institution in retaliation to similar steps taken by both countries over the situation of Xinjiang’s Uyghur minority.

The Chinese foreign ministry banned Gayle Manchin and Tony Perkins, president and vice-president of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Canadian MP Michael Chong and the Canadian House of Commons’ Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development from entering the country.

Chinese people and institutions are barred from doing business or exchange with the commission.

On 22 March, both the US and Canada followed in the footsteps of the European Union and imposed sanctions on four senior Chinese officials and an entity over accusations of severe human rights violations against the Uyghur and other ethnic minority in the northwestern province of Xinjiang.

However, China considered the sanctions to be “unilateral” and based on “rumors and disinformation.”

 “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 redress their mistakes,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“They must stop political manipulation on Xinjiang-related issues, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs in any form and refrain from going further down the wrong path. Otherwise, they will get their fingers burnt,” the statement read.

This came a day after China announced sanctions on nine people and four entities from the United Kingdom.

In response to the EU’s sanctions, Beijing decided to castigate 10 people, including members of the European Parliament and researchers.

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