France, Germany and other EU nations called in Chinese ambassadors on Tuesday to protest at sanctions imposed by Beijing targeting their citizens, as China and Europe faced off over claims of rights abuses against China's Muslim Uyghur minority.

France also rebuked the Chinese envoy for "unacceptable" behaviour after he posted a series of tweets targeting French lawmakers and a researcher.

The diplomatic spat erupted after the EU, Britain and Canada on Monday blacklisted four former and current officials in the Xinjiang region, while Washington, which had already sanctioned two of those officials in July 2020, extended them to the two others.

The tensions come as the EU seeks to formulate a strategy on China at a time when tensions between Beijing and Washington are emerging as the world's number one geopolitical issue.

The European Union and China had in December approved "in principle" a major investment pact that Brussels hopes will open up lucrative opportunities despite concerns on human rights.

China has angrily rejected the claims of a crackdown against the Uyghurs, and responded with entry bans on 10 Europeans -- including five members of the European Parliament -- as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks.

- 'Exceeded the limits' -

In France, China's ambassador Lu Shaye took aim at French lawmakers hoping to visit Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing, as well as Antoine Bondaz, a China specialist at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS) think-tank.

In Twitter posts, Lu derided Bondaz as a "little thug," a "crazed hyena" and "ideological troll" with "anti-Chinese" stances after Bondaz complained about Chinese pressure on French lawmakers hoping to visit Taiwan.

"The embassy's methods, and the tone of its public comments, were completely unacceptable and exceeded all the limits commonly accepted by any embassy in the world," a French foreign ministry official, who asked not to be named, said after Lu appeared Tuesday.

The summons had been issued Monday, but in a breach of standard diplomatic protocol, it took some time for Lu to comply with the demand.

Europe Minister Clement Beaune said earlier Tuesday that Lu had snubbed the initial request for talks, with the Chinese embassy in Paris citing "scheduling issues" in a Twitter post.

"Neither France nor Europe is a doormat," Beaune warned on France Info radio. "When you are summoned as an ambassador, you pay a visit to the foreign ministry."

Germany, a key EU proponent of strong ties with Beijing, called in China's ambassador Wu Ken for "urgent talks" at the foreign ministry.

The envoy was told "that China's sanctions against European MPs, scientists and political institutions as well as non-governmental organisations represent an inappropriate escalation that unnecessarily strains ties between the EU and China," the ministry said.

Italy summoned the Chinese ambassador to a meeting on Wednesday, the Italian foreign ministry said.

- 'Blatant' abuses -

In Brussels, a Belgian government source said China's ambassador was expected to attend a meeting later Tuesday over the sanctions against lawmaker Samuel Cogolati, who proposed a motion in parliament to describe the crackdown on the Uyghurs as a "genocide".

Rights groups believe at least one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where authorities are also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

China has strongly denied allegations of forced labour involving Uyghurs in Xinjiang and says training programs, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region.

But Beijing has repeatedly faced accusations of committing genocide from activists, some legislatures and also most notably former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

Lithuania's foreign ministry also summoned Beijing's envoy since one of its lawmakers was targeted by the sanctions imposed in response to "blatant" abuses.

"China was urged to address the human rights violations instead of imposing countermeasures," it said in a statement.

And in Copenhagen, China's ambassador Feng Tie was summoned to appear at the foreign ministry after Beijing sanctioned Alliance of Democracies, a non-profit founded by Denmark's former premier and ex-NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Similar action was taken in Sweden, with Swedish researcher Bjorn Jerden among those sanctioned.

"Unwavering support for human rights remains unchanged, which was communicated by State Secretary Rydberg to China's ambassador today," Foreign Minister Ann Linde wrote on Twitter, calling the sanctions "unacceptable."

Belgium summons China envoy over lawmaker sanction
Brussels (AFP) March 23, 2021 - Belgium has summoned the Chinese ambassador after Beijing sanctioned a lawmaker in retaliation for EU measures over the crackdown on the Uyghurs, a government source said on Tuesday.

The Chinese envoy was expected to attend a meeting later on Tuesday, the source said, after Belgium's foreign minister criticised the decision to slap entry bans on 10 Europeans.

On Monday, the EU, Britain, US and Canada unveiled coordinated sanctions targeting Chinese officials accused of involvement in the persecution of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

Beijing snapped back immediately, announcing entry bans on 10 Europeans -- including five members of the European Parliament -- as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks.

Among those hit by the counter-sanctions was Belgian lawmaker Samuel Cogolati, who proposed a motion in parliament to describe the crackdown on the Uyghurs as a "genocide".

Rights groups believe at least one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

Beijing has strongly denied the allegations and says training programmes, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region.

Denmark summons Chinese ambassador over sanctions
Copenhagen (AFP) March 23, 2021 - Denmark on Tuesday summoned China's ambassador after Beijing sanctioned an organisation founded by a former Danish prime minister in retaliation for EU measures over the crackdown on the Uyghurs, the foreign ministry said.

The Chinese envoy met with officials at the Danish foreign ministry and was informed of Denmark's protest after China slapped "a number of European individuals and organisations" with sanctions, the ministry said.

"When China sanctions free, critical European politicians, institutions and dissidents, merely for having been critical against China, it is a clear attack on citizens' freedom of expression in Europe and Denmark," foreign minister Jeppe Kofod said in a statement.

On Monday, the EU, Britain, US and Canada unveiled coordinated sanctions targeting Chinese officials accused of involvement in the persecution of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

Beijing snapped back immediately, announcing entry bans on 10 Europeans -- including five members of the European Parliament -- as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks.

The list included the non-profit Alliance of Democracies, founded by Anders Fogh Rasmussen -- who served as Denmark's prime minister between 2001 and 2009 after which he became Secretary General of NATO.

Kofod also stressed that the Chinese sanctions were different from those of the EU.

"Let me emphasise that the EU's sanctions only affect Chinese officials, who are directly responsible for gross human rights violations," Kofod said.

Belgium, France and Lithuania have also summoned China's ambassadors in their respective countries to protest.

Rights groups believe at least one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in China's northwestern region, where Beijing is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

The Chinese government has strongly denied the allegations and says training programmes, work schemes and better education have helped stamp out extremism in the region.

Related Links
News From Across The Stans

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

NATO chief says 'all options open' on Afghan withdrawal
Brussels (AFP) March 22, 2021
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said "all options remain open" on Afghanistan, as allies wait for Washington to decide on a looming withdrawal deadline. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Brussels for two-days of meetings with NATO foreign ministers, looking to shore up ties on his first official trip to Europe. High on the agenda is the future of the alliance's 9,600-strong mission in Afghanistan after former US leader Donald Trump struck a deal with the Talib ... read more