The European Union (EU) imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity on March 22th 2021, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. This move, based on nothing but lies and disinformation, disregards and distorts facts, grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely undermines China-EU relations. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this. The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The Chinese side decides to sanction the following ten individuals and four entities on the EU side that severely harm China’s sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation: Reinhard Bütikofer (Green), Michael Gahler (EPP), Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D), Ilhan Kyuchyuk (Renew) and Miriam Lexmann (Renew) of the European Parliament, Sjoerd Wiemer Sjoerdsma of the Dutch Parliament, Samuel Cogolati of the Belgian Federal Parliament, Dovile Sakaliene of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, German scholar Adrian Zenz, Swedish scholar Björn Jerdén, Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union, Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Germany, and the Alliance of Democracies Foundation in Denmark. The individuals concerned and their families are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China.
The Chinese side urges the EU side to reflect on itself, face squarely the severity of its mistake and redress it. It must stop lecturing others on human rights and interfering in their internal affairs. It must end the hypocritical practice of double standards and stop going further down the wrong path. Otherwise, China will resolutely make further reactions.
(Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/t1863106.shtml)
