by Robin Emmott
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The 27 countries of the European Union agreed on Wednesday to sanction several Chinese officials for human rights abuses, two diplomats learned of the first European sanctions against China since an arms embargo decreed in 1989 after the crackdown on the democratic movement in Tiananmen Square.
The ambassadors of the Twenty-Seven have approved visa bans and asset freezes against four Chinese officials and a Chinese entity, whose names will be made public after the validation of these measures at the ministerial level. Foreign Affairs March 22.
“Restrictive measures adopted against serious human rights violations,” said a European diplomat.
The sanctioned Chinese officials are accused of violating the rights of the Uyghur Muslim minority, diplomats said.
The arms embargo decreed in June 1989 is still in force.
Human rights activists and UN experts estimate that at least one million Uyghurs are being held in camps in Xinjiang, western China, where they are said to be subjected to forced labor. torture and sterilization campaigns.
The United States and Canada have called China’s treatment of Uyghurs genocide, followed by the Parliament of the Netherlands.
Beijing denies any violation of human rights in Xinjiang and claims that these camps provide training for local populations and fight extremism.
The Chinese mission to the EU reacted on Twitter by posting again remarks made on Tuesday by its ambassador Zhang Ming that China will not change its policy in Xinjiang.
“The sanctions are a source of confrontation,” wrote the Chinese representation. “We want dialogue, not confrontation. We ask the EU to think twice. If some persist in the confrontation, we will not back down because we have no choice but to honor our responsibilities to towards the people. “
(French version Bertrand Boucey)
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