China Slaps Sanctions On US, Canadian Entities

China on Saturday slapped sanctions on US and Canadian entities over what the Foreign Ministry says are “rumours and disinformation” about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

In a statement, a foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing made the move after the United States and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese individuals.

“In response, the Chinese side decides to sanction Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Gayle Manchin, Vice Chair of the USCIRF Tony Perkins, Member of Parliament of Canada Michael Chong, and the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of Canada,” the spokesman said.

It means the three individuals will not be allowed entry to the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, and they, as well as the subcommittee, are banned from “doing business” or “having exchanges” with Chinese people.

The spokesman says previous sanctions imposed on US individuals over Xinjiang-related issues remain effective.

The statement also warned “relevant parties” against “political manipulation on Xinjiang-related issues” and interference in China’s internal affairs, or “get their fingers burnt”.

The European Union, US, Britain and Canada on Monday imposed sanctions against Chinese officials over alleged crackdown on the Uighurs, and had blacklisted former and current officials in the Xinjiang region – Zhu Hailan, Wang Jungzheng, Wang Mingshan and Chen Mingguo.