Thread by @fbermingham

BREAKING!

China sanctions 10 EU individuals and four entities in response to EU sanctions over Xinjiang

MEPs: Reinhard Butikofer, Michael Gahler, Raphaël Glucksmann, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Miriam Lexmann, Sjoerd Wiemer Sjoerdsma of the Dutch Parliament, Samuel Cogolati of the Belgian Federal Parliament, Dovile Sakaliene of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,

German scholar Adrian Zenz, Swedish scholar Björn Jerdén, Political and Security Committee of the Council of the EU, Subcommittee on Human Rights of the EU Parliament, the Mercator Institute for China Studies (!) in Germany, and the Alliance of Democracies Foundation in Denmark

The individuals concerned and their families are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China.

UPDATE: US now adds Chen Mingguo and Wang Junzheng to its list of sanctioned individuals in actions it says "complement actions also taken today by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada"

home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/…

UK and Canada add the same four individuals and entity to sanctions list as the EU.

All kicking off now...

EU top diplomat Borrell just finished presser, said they found out about China's retaliation during the Foreign Affairs Council, "we consider this unacceptable. It doesn't answer our legit concerns. We want China to engage in dialogue, not to continue being confrontational."

This will surely affect chances of ratifying the CAI.

@TheProgressives say removing sanctions on MEPs are a condition for parliament to enter any talks on EU China investment deal

socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-m…

Is this some shade being thrown on the EU by Raab? No mention of Brussels in this tweet. Borrell just spoke about how the other sanctioning nations "mirrored" the EU. Raab cuts them out altogether...

https://twitter.com/DominicRaab/status/1374043567233110018?s=19

. @merics_eu statement from Europe's premier China think tank on appearing on the sanctions list

"We will continue to pursue this mission by presenting fact-based analysis, also with the aim of creating opportunities for exchanges and dialogue – even in difficult times."