US joins EU in sanctions against China: What you need to know

Picture courtesy : Global Times

On Monday, the US and Canada joined European Union in sanctions against China to protest human rights violations and abuses. Here is everything we know about the update:

1. EU imposed travel and economic sanctions on four Chinese officials to protest the human rights violation in the western Xinjiang region where hundreds of Uyghur Muslims are imprisoned.

2. This is the first time since 1989, that EU has imposed sanctions on China.

3. China has responded to the sanctions by imposing sanctions of its own on 10 European individuals and 4 entities.

4. US joined the EU in sanctions and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "The United States is committed to playing a strong leadership role in global efforts to combat serious human rights abuse, through the Global Magnitsky sanctions program and similar efforts.”

5. US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and EU released a statement together, “We will continue to stand together to shine a spotlight on China's human rights violations”.