China sanctions two US officials and a Canadian MP after their criticize Beijing's human rights abuses of ethnic Uighurs
China announced sanctions against two Americans, a Canadian and a human rights advocacy body Saturday following criticism of Beijing's treatment of ethnic Uighurs.
Americans Gayle Manchin, chair of the U.S. government's advisory Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Tony Perkins, the group's vice chair, are now banned from China and from communicating with its citizens for speaking out about China's human rights abuses.
'I feel flattered to be recognized by Communist China for calling out genocidal crimes against religious and ethnic minorities in the country,' Manchin said in a statement, Fox News reported.
'While I don't have plans to travel to China this summer, I won't stop speaking out when egregious violations of religious freedom are taking place as they are in China,' added Manchin, the wife of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Canadian official Michael Chong, vice chair of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, and eight members of its Subcommittee on International Human Rights were also hit with sanctions for criticizing the regime.
Chong called the sanctions a 'badge of honour.'
'We who live freely in democracies under the rule of law must speak for the voiceless,' Chong tweeted.
Officials in Washington, D.C., said the measure would only intensify the spotlight on the country's Xinjiang province, where alleged abuses have occurred.
Gayle Manchin, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, has been sanctioned by the Chinese government over allegations China has abused ethnic Uighurs
Tony Perkins, vice chair of the Commission on International Religious Freedom, was also sanctioned by China last week
Canadian Member of Parliament Michael Chong in the House of Commons in Ottawa on March 26. Chong is among the Canadian officials prohibited from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the sanctions by China against American and Canadian officials 'baseless'
China said the sanctioned officials are banned from entering China and its territories, and are not allowed to conduct business with Chinese citizens and institutions. They also warned they 'must stop political manipulation on Xinjiang-related issues, stop interfering in China's internal affairs in any form,' the foreign ministry said. 'Otherwise, they will get their fingers burnt.'
'The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and urges the relevant parties to clearly understand the situation and redress their mistakes,' the foreign ministry said, according to Reuters.
China imposed sanctions after the officials criticized their treatment of ethnic Uighurs
At least one million Uighurs and people from other mostly Muslim groups have been held in camps in the northwestern region, according to rights groups that accuse Chinese officials of forcibly sterilizing women and imposing forced labor on the minority group.
The BBC reported leaked documents showed China has attempted to systematically brainwash hundreds of thousands of Muslims in a network of high-security prison camps. The Chinese governments claim the camps are vocational education centers.
The European Union, Britain, Canada and the United States sanctioned several members of Xinjiang's political and economic hierarchy last week over the allegations.
China retaliated Saturday, accusing the U.S. and Canada of imposing sanctions 'based on rumors and disinformation.'
The gate of what is officially known as a vocational skills education center in Xinjiang province in September 2018
Canadian MP Michael Chong posted a tweet calling China's sanctions against him 'a badge of honour'
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the sanctions 'baseless,' saying they would only shine a harsh spotlight on 'genocide' in Xinjiang.
'Beijing's attempts to intimidate and silence those speaking out for human rights and fundamental freedoms only contribute to the growing international scrutiny of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang,' Blinken said Saturday.
Blinken said the Biden administration is united with its allies in pushing back against China's increasing authoritarianism and assertiveness at home and abroad.
Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi followed with a list of Chinese complaints about the U.S. and accused Washington of hypocrisy for criticizing Beijing on human rights and other issues.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the measures as 'an attack on transparency and freedom of expression.'
Trudeau's comments came after top Canadian diplomat Marc Garneau accused Beijing of deploying heavy-handed tactics.
'Bullies don't change unless you send very clear messages to them,' Garneau told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says sanctions against members of his goverment are 'an attack on transparency and freedom of expression'
Chinese Communist Party foreign affairs chief Yang Jiechi speaks at the opening session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 18. He accused Washington of hypocrisy for criticizing Beijing on human rights and other issues
Beijing denies any abuses in Xinjiang, describing detention centers as work camps intended to boost incomes and deter extremism.
The diplomatic standoff spilled into the business world last week when pledges made last year by several companies to boycott Xinjiang cotton resurfaced on China's social network Weibo.
The pledges by Sweden's H&M, American sportswear giant Nike, Germany's Adidas and Japan's Uniqlo, were denounced Friday by the United States, which implied it was a calculated move by Beijing.
'The US condemns... (China's) social media campaign and corporate and consumer boycott against companies, including American, European and Japanese businesses,' State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter said.
Chinese celebrities and tech firms pulled out of partnerships with Nike, H&M, Adidas, Burberry and Calvin Klein.
China previously sanctioned dozens of American officials including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for 'crazy moves' against Beijing under the Trump administration.
Canada-China relations are also at their lowest point in decades, with China putting two Canadians on trial for alleged espionage this month while an extradition hearing in Vancouver for Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou enters its final months.
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