The United States imposed sanctions on Chinese officials today under the Magnitsky Act, after the European Union, Britain and Canada imposed similar penalties, in response to what it considered gross human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.

And Washington considered that the Chinese government continues to commit crimes and genocide in Xinjiang in light of the increasing international condemnation.

The United States reiterated its calls for China to end the oppression against Uighur Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang.

The Chinese government called for the release of detainees held in concentration camps and detention centers.

The US decision comes after the announcement of an agreement between the member states of the European Union to impose sanctions on 4 people and a Chinese entity due to violations in Xinjiang, and Canada and Britain announced sanctions against Chinese officials.

White House spokeswoman Jane Saki said that the sanctions announced by Canada and the European Union against China are part of the joint action between Washington and these countries.

Today, Monday, the European Union imposed sanctions, including an asset freeze and a travel ban to European Union countries, on officials and institutions in China for their involvement in the violations.

The resolution also includes similar sanctions against entities and officials in Myanmar, Ethiopia, North Korea, Libya and South Sudan.

The Al-Jazeera correspondent in Beijing reported that China responded by imposing sanctions on 10 Europeans, including parliamentarians.

For her part, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chun Yin said that the United States interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, under the slogan of democracy and human rights, and causes many problems in the world.

The Chinese official added in a press conference that Russia and China have become the main supporter of peace and stability in the world, as she described.

A statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry also indicated that the European sanctions are not based on legal justifications, but are based on lies, and which distort facts and interfere in internal affairs.