China Spreads Sanctions On Xinjiang, US Secretary Of State: Increase International Oversight

Illustrated photo taken in Xinjiang, China. (Wikimedia Commons/Anagoria)

JAKARTA - The United States has condemned sanctions imposed by China on two US officials, as well as a member of Parliament and a Canadian entity, in connection with China's actions against Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China's actions would increase international surveillance of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.

Blinken's remarks came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lashed out at Beijing and pledged to defend human rights.

"We stand in solidarity with Canada, Britain, the European Union, and other partners and allies around the world, in calling on (China) to end human rights abuses and abuses," Antony Blinken said in a statement launched by Reuters.

Two US individuals who are subject to Chinese sanctions are members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom Gayle Manchin and Tony Parkins.

Meanwhile, in Canada, Canadian Parliament member Michael Chong and the Parliament's Human Rights Committee were also sanctioned. All are prohibited from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

China is known to impose sanctions on a number of parties from various countries in response to sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, Britain, and Canada.

Earlier this week, China was subjected to sanctions for alleged violations of the rights of Uighur Muslims and other Turkish minorities in China's western region of Xinjiang. UN rights activists and experts say at least one million Muslims have been detained in camps in Xinjiang. Activists and some Western politicians accuse China of using torture, forced labor, and sterilization.

China has repeatedly denied all allegations of abuse and says its camps offer vocational training and are necessary to fight extremism.

"The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and urges relevant parties to clearly understand the situation and correct their mistakes," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

"They must stop political manipulation on issues related to Xinjiang, stop meddling in China's domestic affairs in any form, and refrain from going further down the wrong path. Otherwise, their fingers will burn," the statement continued.

Separately, Canadian MP Michael Chong said he would use the sanctions imposed on him as a "badge of honor". Chong urged the Trudeau Government to officially recognize the Uighur genocide.

"This shows that lawmakers are effective in drawing attention to the Uighur genocide that is taking place in western China," Chong said in a telephone interview.

For your information, Michael Chong is the vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development and the Subcommittee on International Human Rights. This month he submitted a report that concluded the atrocities in Xinjiang amounted to crimes against humanity and genocide.