The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom joined the European Union on Monday to take what they described as "coordinated action" against China, which contains travel bans and asset freezes on former and current senior Chinese officials from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Following are their responses to the sanctions:
Wang Junzheng
Political commissar of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps
The sanctions imposed to individuals and entities in Xinjiang in the name of human rights issues are based on lies and false information. The move is a gross slander and an affront to the reputation and dignity of the Chinese people.
It is an interference with China's internal affairs, and a serious violation of China's sovereignty and security interests. It has severely trampled on international laws and the basic norms of international relations. That's why I strongly oppose and condemn it.
I want to state that I have no interest in traveling to the EU, U.S., UK or Canada. Also, I don't have a penny saved in their banks. So the sanction is nothing but a piece of waste paper and a self-inflicted humiliation. I am sure that the majority of the international community will despise the decision.
It seems that the EU, U.S., UK and Canada have found treasures after learning about the fabricated "evidence" from anti-China politicians and so-called scholars. They then have tried their best to play the tricks of sticking labels on Xinjiang and slandering the region, which have fully exposed their intentions of sabotaging Xinjiang's development and stability and interfering with China's internal affairs.
I urge those countries to stop the ridiculous farce. They should never underestimate Chinese people's strong will to safeguard national interests and dignity.
Wang Mingshan
Head of the Political and Law Commission of CPC Xinjiang Committee
I feel ridiculous about the sanctions. My family and I don't want to go to these countries at all, and we don't have any assets abroad.
The sanctions are futile and will not shake the firm will and resolve of Xinjiang officials to promote counter-terrorism and de-radicalization in the region, and to maintain lasting peace and stability there.
We will continue to fight the forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and the fight will never been interrupted by outside forces.
Zhu Hailun
Deputy head of the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang People's Congress
I will not go to these countries, nor do I have any assets in these countries, and sanctions against me are meaningless.
No slander can stop the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. No rumors can discredit the fact that Xinjiang's human rights situation is progressing, and no conspiracy can shake the determination of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to work together in unity.
Chen Mingguo
Vice-chairman of the Xinjiang regional government
I am proud of being sanctioned by these countries.
People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have lived and worked happily and no longer have to worry about being threatened by terrorism and extremism thanks to the efforts to fight against terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law in recent years.
However, the EU, U.S., UK and Canada have turned a deaf ear to the facts. Instead, they spread false information and interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
The fact is that we will never back down on issues regarding national sovereignty, security and interests. We are more confident and determined than ever to maintain social stability and long-term stability in Xinjiang.
