The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on March 27 announcing China’s decision to impose sanctions on Gayle Manchin, chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Tony Perkins, vice chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Canadian federal Rep. Michael Chong, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on International Human Rights (FAAE). At the same Time, the previous Chinese sanctions against U.S. personnel who have seriously undermined China’s sovereignty and interests on border-related issues remain in effect, the statement said.
A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, “In response to the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and Canada on March 22 on people and entities related to China’s Xinjiang region based on lies and false information, China has decided to impose sanctions on U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chairman Manchin and Vice Chairman Burkins, Canadian Federal Congressman Chuang Wen Ho, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on International Human Rights, prohibiting Chinese citizens and institutions are prohibited from trading with the above-mentioned persons or dealing with the above-mentioned entities. At the same time, the previous Chinese sanctions against U.S. personnel who have seriously undermined China’s sovereignty and interests on border-related issues remain in effect.”
The statement said, “The Chinese government’s determination to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering. China urges the parties concerned to recognize the situation, correct their mistakes, stop political maneuvering on the border-related issues, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs in any way, and not to go further and further down the wrong path, or they will surely burn themselves with fire.” Previously, Beijing has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and four entities on the European side and nine people and four entities on the British side in response to a joint sanctions campaign by the United States, Britain, Canada and the European Union against Chinese officials over human rights issues in Xinjiang. They included MEPs, academics, research institutions and members of both houses of the British Parliament, the British Conservative Party’s Human Rights Committee, and other persons and entities.
A joint statement issued Monday by Canada’s foreign minister, the British foreign secretary and the U.S. secretary of state read, “Today, we are coordinating our actions and taking measures, in parallel with those taken by the European Union, to send a clear message about the human rights violations and abuses taking place in Xinjiang. We stand united in calling on China to end repression against Uighur Muslims and other ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, and to release those who are being arbitrarily detained.”
The statement said, “We stress the importance of transparency and accountability and call on China to grant the international community, including independent UN investigators, journalists and foreign diplomats, unhindered access to Xinjiang. We will continue to stand together to expose human rights violations in China. We stand united in our call for justice for those who have suffered in Xinjiang.”
It is worth noting that the latest U.S.-Canadian on the list of those sanctioned by China is Gail Manchin, president of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and wife of Democratic West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). Joe Manchin served as governor of West Virginia and is the current chair of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee. Gayle Manchin was appointed to chair the committee by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on April 19, 2018. She has now been appointed by President Biden to chair the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and is still awaiting a Senate appointment hearing.
In addition, Wen-Hao Chuang, who was also announced to be sanctioned by China, is a Dutch-Canadian of Chinese descent, a Canadian federal Conservative Party politician, and the current Member of Parliament for the Wellington-Hatton Hills constituency in the Canadian House of Commons. In response to the news of the sanctions, Chuang Wen-Hao later responded via Twitter, saying, “We have a responsibility to call out China for its crackdown in Hong Kong and its genocide of the Uighurs. Those of us who live freely in a democracy under the rule of law must speak out for the voiceless. If it means China sanctions me, I will wear it as a badge of honour.”
Erin O’Toole, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, tweeted, “Canadian MPs sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party have used the freedoms we enjoy as Canadians to call the world’s attention to the genocide of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. I’m proud of the work of MPs from all parties.” He claimed, “Wen-Hao Chuang and Kenny Chiu also demonstrated how Canadians of Chinese ancestry can be resolute critics of Communist repression while being proud of their rich Chinese history and Culture.”
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