The People’s Republic of China has earned condemnation and sanctions for its abuses of the Uighur population in Xinjiang and the security crackdown on Hong Kong – but has now started dealing out punishments of its own.
Earlier this week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that ‘corresponding sanctions’ would be instituted against a number of United States leaders, after Washington announced entry restrictions on several officials in the administration of Xinjiang.
‘The United States will not stand idly by as the Chinese Communist Party carries out human rights abuses targeting Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang, to include forced labour, arbitrary mass detention, and forced population control, and attempts to erase their culture and Muslim faith,’ said Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State.
Among the US figures targeted by China are Republican senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida. The precise nature of the sanctions is unclear, although they may involve travel restrictions.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said of the US measures: ‘We urge the US to immediately withdraw its wrong decision, and stop any words and actions that interfere in China’s internal affairs and harm China’s interests.’
In a separate development, China announced that it would place sanctions on Lockheed Martin, following permission being granted by the US government for the company to upgrade Taiwan’s air defence systems. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, and such deals as an infringement on its sovereignty. It has previously threatened companies doing defence contracting for Taiwan.