Harborough’s MP Hit With Sanctions By China

Harborough’s MP is one of nine UK citizens hit with sanctions by China – in a growing international row over human rights.

It says the individuals, including Neil O’Brien, a member of the government’s China Research Group, have spread “lies and disinformation” about the country.

The move comes in retaliation for measures taken by the UK government on Monday, over human rights abuses against the Uighur Muslim minority group.

Activists and UN rights experts say around a million people have been detained in Xinjiang, in the north west of China.

Mr O’Brien and others sanctioned are prohibited from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and Chinese citizens and institutions are forbidden from doing business with them.

The MP spoke to Hfm:

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the UK sanctions were “based on nothing but lies and disinformation” and that the move “severely undermines China-UK relations”.

The spokesperson added that they had summoned the British Ambassador to China to express their opposition.

Neil O’Brien in the House Of Commons