China has imposed sanctions on two US citizens and a Canadian member of parliament over Beijing's criticism of the Uighur issue. A committee working on human rights has also been banned. The news agency AFP reported this information.
Last week, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada imposed sanctions on a number of Chinese political and economic officials. In retaliation, China announced the ban on Saturday.
The United States and Canada are imposing sanctions on China based on comments, rumors and false information from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Gail Manchin and Tony Perkins, two members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Michael Chong, a Canadian MP, were among those banned by China yesterday.
In addition, a Canadian parliamentary committee on human rights has been banned. These individuals and entities will not be able to conduct commercial activities with Chinese citizens and organizations. China's foreign ministry says it must stop interfering in China's internal affairs. They were also banned from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has criticized China's sanctions.He called the ban unfounded. At the same time, the US Secretary of State said that such a ban would bring the issue of genocide in Xinjiang to the forefront.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also criticized China's sanctions move. He called Beijing's move an attack on transparency and freedom of expression.
Human rights groups say at least one million Uighur Muslims and members of other minority groups are being held in various camps in Xinjiang. There are allegations that Chinese authorities are violating human rights against Uighurs and other minorities in the prison.
