Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, takes a question during a press briefing in Beijing, China on Dec 21, 2021. (PHOTO / MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, CHINA)
BEIJING – China has decided to take reciprocal countermeasures and sanction four US individuals in response to the US sanctions against as many Chinese officials over issues related to Xinjiang.
The individuals are US Commission on International Religious Freedom chair Nadine Maenza, vice-chair Nury Turkel, and commissioners Anurima Bhargava and James Carr.
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Henceforth, these four individuals are prohibited from entering China (including the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao), said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian.
The United States should revoke the so-called sanctions and stop interfering in issues related to Xinjiang and China's internal affairs.
Zhao Lijian, Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry
Also, their properties in China are frozen, and they are banned from doing business with Chinese citizens and institutions, he added.
Zhao said the United States imposed illegal sanctions against four Chinese officials under the pretext of the so-called human rights issue in Xinjiang according to US domestic laws.
The move gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, violated the basic norms of international relations, and damaged China-US ties.
“China expresses firm opposition and strong condemnation,” he said.
China decided to take reciprocal countermeasures according to the anti-foreign sanctions law in response to this wrong move, said Zhao.
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"Xinjiang affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and the United States has no right or qualification to interfere. The United States should revoke the so-called sanctions and stop interfering in issues related to Xinjiang and China's internal affairs," he said.
China will make further response depending on the development of the situation, he added.