Four days after the UK joined its allies in imposing sanctions on the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on 26th local Time that it had imposed sanctions on four British entities and nine individuals, including five British MPs and senior lawyers and academics, and summoned the British ambassador to Beijing to lodge what it called a “solemn protest”. The British government and various sectors subsequently issued strong condemnation.
On Monday, the UK, together with the EU, Canada and the US, imposed sanctions on four Chinese officials and one entity (the US sanctioned two officials) for violating the human rights of the Uighur people, the first time the UK imposed an asset freeze and travel ban on Chinese Communist Party officials and entities.
On the same day the CCP immediately imposed retaliatory sanctions on the EU, including MEPs, and Sky News analyzed that it seems the CCP was so surprised by the UK’s outburst that it took a few days to respond.
The British Foreign Office issued a statement strongly condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s sanctions
In response to the alleged sanctions, the British government subsequently issued a strong condemnation, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab saying, “We strongly condemn the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to silence those who speak out against human rights persecution at Home and abroad, including British MPs and peers.”
In the Foreign Office’s “Statement by the Foreign Secretary on the Chinese Communist Party’s decision to sanction nine British citizens,” Lan said, “It is self-evident that while the UK is joining the international community in sanctioning the Chinese Communist Party for human rights abuses, the Chinese government is sanctioning its critics.
“If Beijing wants to credibly refute criticism of human rights abuses (in) Xinjiang, it should let the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights go on a comprehensive mission to check the facts.”
British Prime Minister: I strongly support these British citizens
British Prime Minister Johnson tweeted that he strongly supports these British citizens who are exposing CCP atrocities, “The MPs and other British citizens sanctioned by the CCP today have played a major role in exposing the serious human rights abuses committed by the CCP against Uighur Muslims.
“The freedom to speak out against abuse is fundamental, and I strongly support them.”
Former Conservative Party leader: this is a badge of honor for me
Iain Duncan Smith, the former leader of the British Conservative Party, described the sanctions as a “badge of honor” given to him.
He tweeted, “We have a responsibility to speak out against the Chinese government’s violations of human rights in Hong Kong and the genocide of the Uighur people. Those who enjoy a free Life in a rule of law (country) must speak up for those who cannot speak out.”
Another sanctioned Conservative MP, Nusrat Ghani, tweeted that she would not be “intimidated or forced into silence. Ghani told the BBC, “This is a wake-up call to all democracies and MPs.”
British Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was very wrong for the Chinese Communist Party to sanction British individuals and entities, telling the media Friday that he knew the MPs who had been sanctioned and “they will not be silenced or intimidated” by the action.
Benedict Rogers, vice chairman of the British Conservative Party’s Human Rights Committee and director of Hong Kong Monitor, tweeted, “Those sanctioned by the CCP are on the right side of history and the end of dictators is near. ” He added that many of the sanctioned lawmakers were his friends and that they were “heroes in my heart.
IPAC Statement: Continued Full Support for People Persecuted by CCP
A statement from the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition on China Policy (IPAC), known as the International Parliamentarians Against Communism (IPAC), said the sanctions included five IPAC members, Duncan Smith, Kenndy, Alton, Ghani, and Tim Loughton, and that IPAC expressing strong opposition.
“The CCP government has once again shown that it cannot take a bit of criticism and we vow to continue to use all our power to speak out for those people who are being oppressed by the CCP.”
“IPAC UK members are seeking urgent assurances from UK ministers that the UK government will defend the right of elected representatives to speak out without fear of threats or intimidation. We call on the British government to urgently review the CCP’s attempts to undermine free and open debate.”
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