WASHINGTON (US) – Beijing said on Friday that it would take “reciprocal measures” against Washington for imposing sanctions on senior Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims.
China said the US sanctions are “deeply detrimental” to mutual ties, which are already on the wane over the manner in which the country handled the virus outbreak and its imposition of a new security law on Hong Kong.
US imposed sanctions on the Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo of the autonomous region of Xinjiang, who is also a member of the Politburo, and three other officials.
A senior US administration official said was the highest ranking official to be imposed with sanctions.
The decision is “no joke,” said the official. “Not only in terms of symbolic and reputational affect, but it does have real meaning on a person’s ability to move around the world and conduct business.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing that the US sanctions were a serious interference in Chinese affairs.
“In light of these wrong actions, China will impose reciprocal measures on US officials and organizations that have displayed egregious behaviour on human rights in relation to Xinjiang affairs,” Zhao said.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field