China warned the European Union on Tuesday (March 16th) of the risk of "
confrontation
" if sanctions are adopted to denounce violations of Uyghur rights in Xinjiang and reform of the electoral system in Hong Kong.
Read also: "Genocide" of the Uyghurs: Beijing condemns a vote in the Dutch parliament
“
I want to stress that the sanctions are a showdown.
Sanctions based on lies could be interpreted as a deliberate attack on China's security and development
, ”
Chinese
Ambassador to the EU, Zhang Ming, warned in a discussion hosted by the EU. European Policy Center in Brussels.
"
It is the responsibility of the Chinese government to protect the safety and well-being of the people in China,
" added the Chinese diplomat.
"
We want, we need, we want dialogue and not confrontation,
" he said.
“
We ask the European side to think twice.
If some insist on confrontation, we will not back down, because we have no choice but to assume our responsibilities towards the people of our country
”, he concluded.
China is targeted by a new set of European sanctions for human rights violations committed in Xinjiang against the Muslim Uyghur minority, European diplomatic sources said.
Several other countries are affected by these sanctions, which consist of a visa ban and the freezing of assets held in the EU by the persons and entities concerned.
The measures will be submitted for approval to EU foreign ministers on March 22 when they meet to prepare for the European summit on March 25 and 26, during which EU leaders are to decide on their strategy towards the EU. China.
Unanimity is required for the adoption of sanctions.
The Europeans are also preparing for April a package of measures to denounce the violation by Beijing of the principle of "
one country, two systems
" with the adoption of a reform of the electoral system in Hong Kong which will give to power a right of veto over the candidates. opposition activists for democracy in the legislative elections, said the same sources.