China has given the European Union a stern warning against planned EU sanctions for human rights violation, stressing that it will not yield if Brussels interfered in its internal affairs.
China’s ambassador to the 27-nation bloc, Zhang Ming said they are seeking dialogue, not confrontation. Speaking at an online seminar on Tuesday he said they would not back down in the face of any confrontation.
EU ambassadors were on Wednesday expected to give the go-ahead for sanctions to consist of travel bans and asset freezes against four Chinese officials as well as one entity.
EU diplomats said it was in response to alleged persecution and forced labour against China’s Uighur Muslim minority, a claim which China has rejected and describing the claims as “lies for political gain.
Zhang also gave a warning to the EU not to link an investment deal between both countries in December with human rights issues or Beijing’s actions on Hong Kong.
Analysts say that while the investment deal could redress unbalanced trade relations between the two, EU lawmakers will need to approve for the deal to take effect and the human rights issue could pose a problem.
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