BEIJING / OTTAWA (Reuters) – The United States on Saturday condemned China’s sanctions against two U.S. religious rights officials and a Canadian lawmaker in a dispute over Beijing’s treatment of Uighur Muslims and other minorities.
China’s movements “only contribute to the growing international control of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. We stand in solidarity with Canada, the United Kingdom, the EU and other partners and allies around the world in calling on (China) to end human rights violations and abuses, “the Secretary of State said. United, Anthony Blinken, in a statement.
Beijing’s sanctions followed those imposed by the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada earlier this week on what they say are violations of the rights of Uighur Muslims and other turquoise minorities in the western Chinese region. of Xinjiang.
UN activists and rights experts say at least one million Muslims have been detained in Xinjiang camps. Activists and some Western politicians accuse China of using torture, forced labor and sterilization.
China has repeatedly denied all allegations of abuse and says its camps offer vocational training and are needed to combat extremism.
Blinken’s statement came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced Beijing and vowed to defend human rights.
China sanctioned Canadian opposition lawmaker Michael Chong, vice chairman of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development and its International Human Rights Subcommittee, who this month presented a report concluding that the atrocities in Xinjiang constitute crimes against humanity and genocide.
Beijing also said it will take action against the president and vice president of the United States International Religious Freedom Commission, Gayle Manchin and Tony Perkins.
People under Beijing sanctions are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, and Chinese citizens and institutions are prohibited from doing business with the three people or having exchanges with the subcommittee.
“The Chinese government is firmly committed to safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests and urges the relevant parties to clearly understand the situation and resolve its mistakes,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
“They must stop political manipulation on Xinjiang-related issues, stop interfering in any way in China’s internal affairs, and refrain from going any further down the wrong path. Otherwise, your fingers will burn. “
China’s previous sanctions on U.S. individuals that it says have severely undermined China’s sovereignty and continue to hold interest in Xinjiang-related issues.
Chong, who is a member of the Conservative opposition party in Canada, said he would “carry (sanctions) as a badge of honor.”
“This shows that parliamentarians are effective in drawing attention to the genocide of the Uyghur people that is taking place in western China,” Chong said in a telephone interview.
Chong urged the Trudeau government to “officially recognize the Uyghur genocide” and said the sanctions would have no practical effect because it had no plans to travel to China.
Report by Ryan Woo in Beihing and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; additional reports by Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Edited by Kevin Liffey and Cynthia Osterman