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According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese ambassador was summoned on Tuesday to protest against D. Šakalienė and “the inclusion of European Union institutions and human rights defenders in China from EU member states in the Chinese sanctions lists. “.
“The ambassador was reminded that the list of people subject to restrictive measures under the EU global sanctions for human rights violations, approved yesterday at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, is not directed against any country.” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights that this list, based on evidence, has imposed sanctions on “natural and legal persons who commit serious human rights violations in several countries.
“The ambassador was reminded that the protection of human rights is a long-term goal of Lithuania’s foreign policy and a priority of this government, and China was urged to take corrective measures to address human rights violations,” he said the ministry in a press release. .
Beijing imposed sanctions on ten Europeans, including Šakalienė, in response to European Union sanctions against Chinese officials for persecuting the Uighur minority. Several MEPs, members of the Belgian and Dutch parliaments and scientists also appeared on the Chinese blacklist. They are prohibited from entering China.
In addition to Mr. Šakalienė, Aušra Semaškienė, who works in the Lithuanian Permanent Representation to the European Union, as well as their spouses, who work in the diplomatic service, were also blacklisted by the Chinese authorities.
D. Šakalienė, a Social Democrat from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, says that this move by Beijing shows that China is affected by the EU’s principled position.
EU officials recently agreed to impose sanctions on four Chinese officials for persecuting the Uighurs.
Human rights defenders say that at least one million Uighurs and other Turkish-speaking Muslims are being held in so-called re-education camps in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. China is also accused of using forced labor and forced sterilization of women in Xinjiang.
