BRUSSELS (CU)_The European Union, together with the United States, Britain and Canada on Monday (22 March), imposed coordinated sanctions against officials in China over human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
According to British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the measures were part of “intensive diplomacy” by the UK, the US, Canada and the EU in response to mounting evidence about serious violation of rights of the Uyghur Muslim people.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “a united transatlantic response sends a strong signal to those who violate or abuse international human rights”, adding that further action will be taken in coordination with “likeminded partners”.
“We will continue to stand with our allies around the world in calling for an immediate end to the PRC’s crimes and for justice for the many victims,” he said in a statement.
The EU imposed sanctions on four officials in Xinjiang, whose assets will be frozen, while they will also be banned from traveling to the 27-nation bloc. Moreover, European citizens will be prohibited from providing these officials with financial assistance.
Beijing immediately responded to the measures, slapping sanctions on 10 European individuals and 4 institutions, which it said had “maliciously spread lies and disinformation” about China and had damaged the country’s interests.
Issuing these retaliatory measures, China’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the sanctions imposed by the Brussels were based on “nothing but lies and disinformation”.
Accordingly, these 10 individuals and their families will be barred from entering China, Hong Kong and Macao, while their financial dealings with any of these areas will also be cut off. However, the communist regime did not reveal what measures will be taken against the 4 institutions.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell denounced China’s reaction, saying that Beijing disregarded the bloc’s “legitimate concerns” over the rights abuses in Xinjiang.
“Rather than change its policies and address our legitimate concerns, China has again turned a blind eye, and these measures are regrettable and unacceptable,” Borrell said.
Describing the coordination between the EU, the US, Britain and Canada as “perfect”, Borrell reaffirmed that there will be no change in the measures taken by Brussels.
