China on Saturday announced new sanctions against individuals and entities in the U.S. and Canada in retaliation to Western penalties for human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, according to Reuters.
Why it matters: The sanctions come after the U.S., U.K., European Union and Canada this week coordinated sanctions against Chinese officials deemed responsible for human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region.
- The State Department and several legislative bodies have recognized the abuses against Uyghur Muslims as genocide.
Details: Those sanctioned in the U.S. include Gayle Manchin, the chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and Tony Perkins, the vice chair of USCIRF,
- China also sanctioned Canadian member of parliament Michael Chong and the Subcommittee on International Human Rights in Canada's House of Commons.
The big picture: China also retaliated against the EU on Monday, sanctioning 10 Europeans, according to Reuters.
- It placed sanctions on several U.K. individuals and entities on Thursday.
Go deeper:UN report: "Clear evidence" China is committing genocide against Uyghurs