China sanctions 22 Canadian individuals, entities
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China has faced accusations of human rights violations for decades, but the intensity and focus of these allegations have varied over time depending on specific events and regions.
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China's national flags flutter during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP)
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday announced that Beijing had imposed sanctions on 20 Canadian individuals and two organizations in retaliation for Ottawa's recent sanctions against Chinese officials over alleged human rights violations.
On December 10, the Canadian Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against eight current and former senior Chinese officials accused of severe human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry's statement, Beijing has sanctioned the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada-Tibet Committee, as well as 20 individuals associated with these organizations.
The sanctions include the freezing of movable, immovable, and other assets owned by the specified organizations. Employees listed under the sanctions are barred from obtaining Chinese visas and are prohibited from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macao. Additionally, Chinese organizations and individuals are forbidden from engaging in any transactions or cooperation with the sanctioned entities.
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Human rights accusations
China has faced accusations of human rights violations for decades, but the intensity and focus of these allegations have varied over time depending on specific events and regions.
Allegations of human rights abuses began with China's incorporation of Tibet in 1950–51 and escalated with policies targeting Tibetan culture and religion, which is rooted in a religious hierarchy and values that are contrary to Chinese worker-unity ideology.
Xinjiang has been a focus since the mid-20th century due to China's alleged treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, with claims of cultural suppression and forced assimilation.
To date, there have been no direct cases against China at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or the International Criminal Court (ICC) for human rights violations. However, there have been discussions and attempts to bring China's alleged actions to international legal forums.
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