What’s new: China has imposed sanctions on four members of a U.S. commission on religious freedom as a countermeasure to U.S. penalties on Chinese officials over alleged human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
The chair, vice chair and two members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have been barred from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing on Tuesday.
Any assets the individuals may possess in China have been frozen and Chinese citizens and entities have been banned from any dealings with them, Zhao said.
The background: The sanctions come after the U.S. State Department and the Treasury Department on Dec. 10 announced sanctions on four Chinese officials. They include Shohrat Zakir and Erken Tuniyaz, the former and current chairmen of Xinjiang’s regional government, Chen Mingguo, Xinjiang’s police chief, and Hu Lianhe, former senior official with China's United Front Work Department.
Zhao said the sanctions on the U.S. individuals were imposed in accordance with China’s anti-foreign sanctions law.
Contact reporter Cai Xuejiao (xuejiaocai@caixin.com) and editor Heather Mowbray (heathermowbray@caixin.com)
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