BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Saturday imposed sanctions on two U.S. religious rights officials and a Canadian lawmaker in response to sanctions imposed by the United States and Canada on Xinjiang.
Beijing has backtracked on sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada on what they say are rights violations against Uyghur Muslims and other Turkish minorities in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang.
China will take action against the chairman and vice chairman of the U.S. Government’s Advisory Committee on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Gayle Manchin and Tony Perkins, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
He also sanctioned Canadian MP Michael Chong, vice-chairman of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE), as well as the FAAE’s eight-member International Human Rights Subcommittee, which this month introduced a report concluding that atrocities had been committed in Xinjiang that constitute crimes against humanity and genocide.
“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 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. “
According to the ministry, people are prohibited 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.
According to the statement, China’s previous sanctions on American people it claims have severely undermined China’s sovereignty and interests in Xinjiang-related issues.
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.
Ryan Woo Reports; Edited by Kevin Liffey