China imposes sanctions on US officials over Xinjiang

On Dec 22, 2021

China has announced sanctions on four members of the United States government’s Commission on International Religious Freedom in retaliation for penalties, imposed on Chinese officials over complaints of abuses in the country’s north-western Xinjiang region.

The tit-for-tat sanctions on Tuesday, added to spiralling tension over Xinjiang, where over a million minority Muslim Uighurs are believed to have been forced into re-education camps.

However, Washington has banned imports from the region that might be made with forced labour, while activists are calling for a boycott of February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.

China has denied accusations of abuses and earlier retaliated by publicising calls for boycotts of foreign shoe and clothing brands.

According to the foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, “The chairwoman and three members of the US panel are barred from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and any assets they have in the country will be frozen.”

Zhao identified those targeted as Chairwoman Nadine Maenza, Deputy Chairman Nury Turkel and members Anurima Bhargava and James Carr. Zhao gave no indication whether they have assets in China.

China threatened to retaliate after the US Treasury announced sanctions on December 10 on two officials accused of involvement in the repression of Uighurs. Beijing is accused of mass detentions, forced abortions and other human rights abuses.

The US Treasury targeted Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the region’s government from 2018 until early this year, and Erken Tuniyaz, who holds the position now and previously was deputy chairman.

Kamila/Al-Jazeera