BEIJING / OTTAWA (Reuters) – The United States on Saturday condemned China’s sanctions against two US religious rights officials and a Canadian legislator in a dispute over the treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in Beijing.
China’s moves “only add to the growing international investigation into the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. We stand in solidarity with Canada, the UK, the EU and other partners and allies around the world and call on the (China) to end human rights abuses and abuses, ”said the US Secretary of State. Business Anthony Blinken in a statement.
Beijing’s sanctions followed those imposed earlier this week by the United States, the European Union, Great Britain and Canada for violations of the rights of Uyghur Muslims and other Turkish minorities in the West China region of Xinjiang.
Activists and UN law experts say at least one million Muslims have been held in camps in Xinjiang. The activists and some Western politicians accuse China of torture, forced labor and sterilization.
China has repeatedly denied allegations of abuse, saying its camps provide vocational training and are necessary 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 chair of the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development and its Subcommittee on International Human Rights, who this month presented a report concluding that atrocities in Xinjiang are crimes against humanity and genocide.
Beijing also said it would take action against the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the US Commission for International Religious Freedom, Gayle Manchin and Tony Perkins.
The individuals subject to Beijing’s sanctions are not allowed to enter Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and Chinese citizens and institutions are prohibited from doing business with the three individuals or having exchanges with the subcommittee.
“The Chinese government is committed to safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and urges the parties involved to clearly understand the situation and correct their mistakes,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“They must stop political manipulation of Xinjiang-related issues, stop meddling in China’s internal affairs in any form, and stop further down the wrong path. Otherwise they will burn their fingers. “
China’s previous sanctions against US individuals who claim to have seriously undermined China’s sovereignty and interests in Xinjiang-related issues remain in place.
Chong, who is a member of the Conservative Opposition Party in Canada, said he would “bear (the sanctions) as a badge of honor.”
“This shows that MPs are effective in drawing attention to the genocide of the Uyghur people taking place in Western China,” Chong said in a telephone interview.
Chong urged the Trudeau administration to “officially recognize the Uyghur genocide”, saying the sanctions would have no practical effect because he had no plans to travel to China.
Reporting by Ryan Woo in Beihing and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Cynthia Osterman