China hits back at US sanctions with countermeasures

China announced on Monday sanctions against United States entities and officials, including the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China, US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback and Republican Senator Marco Rubio, in response to Washington's sanctions against Chinese entities and officials over Xinjiang-related issues.

The sanctions will be imposed starting from today, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily briefing.

"The US practice constitutes serious interference in China's internal affairs, a severe violation of basic norms governing international relations, and grave harm to China-US relations," Hua said. "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns such moves."

Hua pointed out Xinjiang affairs are entirely China's internal affairs, and the United States has no right, and is in no position, to intervene. "The Chinese government is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, combat violent terrorism, separatism and religious extremism, and oppose foreign interference in Xinjiang affairs and China's other internal affairs," said the spokesperson.

"We urge the United States to immediately withdraw its wrong decisions, and cease any remarks or attempts to meddle in China's internal affairs, and damage China's interests," Hua said, adding China will make further decisions following the development of the situation.