Coordinated Alliance Response... US "Does Not Rule Out Additional Measures"
[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho, New York=Correspondent Jongmin Baek] The United States, in alliance with the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Canada, and others, has imposed sanctions on China for human rights abuses against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.
On the 22nd (local time), according to CNN and others, the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated in a press release that "the evidence of human rights abuses against the Uyghurs, including internal Chinese government documents, satellite images, and eyewitness testimonies, is overwhelming," and condemned "China's extensive repression program, which includes severe restrictions on religious freedom, forced labor, mass detention in camps, forced sterilization, and the systematic destruction of Uyghur heritage."
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury added two Chinese officials to the sanctions list: Wang Junzheng, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and Chen Mingguo, Director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau.
The sanctions were applied under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which freezes the U.S. assets of individuals involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption, restricts their visas, and prohibits U.S. companies from doing business with them.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to the Chinese government's repression of the Uyghurs as genocide. He said, "Amid growing international condemnation, China continues to commit genocide and crimes against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang," and added, "The United States repeatedly calls on China to end its repression of the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities."
He further emphasized, "We will cooperate with like-minded allies to take additional measures."
The EU also imposed human rights sanctions on more than 10 officials from six countries including North Korea and Russia, including four Chinese officials and one organization responsible for the repression of the Uyghurs. North Korean officials were also included in the sanctions list by the EU.
AFP reported that this is the first time since the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident in Beijing that the EU has imposed sanctions on China related to human rights abuses, including an arms embargo.
The United Kingdom and Canada also announced sanctions against four Chinese officials and one organization. The UK condemned the "industrial-scale" torture, forced labor, and sterilization measures against the Uyghurs.
Although these sanctions were announced individually, the countries made it clear that they are jointly responding through coordination among allies regarding China's human rights issues with the Uyghurs.
The U.S. government has not ruled out additional measures against China.
Andrea Gacki, Director of OFAC under the U.S. Treasury Department, said, "Chinese authorities will continue to face sanctions as long as atrocities persist against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang," and added, "The Treasury Department is committed to enhancing accountability for the Chinese government's human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and torture of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities."
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki also stated at a regular briefing that additional measures against China are not ruled out, indicating that U.S. pressure is expected to intensify.
This sanctions announcement came after the U.S.-China high-level 2+2 talks held in Alaska on the 18th-19th ended without a joint statement amid disagreements and clashes over various issues.
With the talks, which were regarded as a meeting of the century, ending without results, the implementation of human rights-related sanctions raises concerns about the potential escalation of U.S.-China tensions.
Meanwhile, China responded to the EU's sanctions announcement by imposing sanctions on EU officials. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on its website that it would sanction 10 European officials and 4 organizations that "seriously infringe on China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and fake information."
The sanctions target include German scholar Adrian Zenz, who has been continuously criticized by Chinese authorities, as well as members of the European Parliament and parliaments of the Netherlands, Belgium, Lithuania, and the EU Council's Political and Security Committee.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The relevant individuals and their families are banned from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau," and "companies and organizations related to them will also face restrictions on travel to China."
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