The European Union will continue to impose sanctions on Chinese officials linked to Uyghur human rights violations, as long as these violations persist, despite Beijing’s move to ease counter-sanctions on EU lawmakers.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the EU has decided not to lift the sanctions imposed on Chinese officials over continued reports of genocide and human rights abuses in the Uyghur Autonomous Region (East Turkistan), due to a lack of improvement in the situation.
China and the European Parliament had reportedly been nearing a resolution on removing punitive measures against sitting members, with an official announcement expected in the following weeks.
However, a representative for the EU’s diplomatic body, which manages foreign policy and sanctions, announced on Thursday that there are no plans for reciprocal action, citing no progress in the region.
“The EU has not seen any changes in the human rights situation in the Uyghur Autonomous Region. Thus, the Council continues to uphold the sanctions related to the region,” said Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy.
The sanctions exchange began in March 2021, when Brussels joined the United States, Britain, and Canada in imposing visa bans and asset freezes on several Chinese officials and one entity.
At the time, the EU stated that the sanctions were a response to involvement in “serious human rights violations in China, particularly large-scale arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities.”
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