The Chinese embassies in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany lodged solemn representations over sanctions imposed by the EU against China under the pretext of human rights issues in Xinjiang, expressed firm opposition and strong condemnation, and notified China's relevant countermeasures.

The embassies said that the sanctions imposed by the EU side were based on lies and misleading information related to Xinjiang, and asked the countries to respect the facts, discard prejudice against China and stop using Xinjiang-related matters to interfere in China's internal affairs.

Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou Tuesday also lodged a solemn representation to the Swedish government regarding EU sanctions against China. 

Gui told State Secretary Robert Rydberg at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden that Xinjiang-related issues are not about ethnicity, religion or human rights, but about fighting terrorism and de-radicalization. 

"As the old Chinese saying goes, 'you reap what you sow'. The EU has imposed unwarranted sanctions on the relevant Chinese personnel and entities based on the lies and false facts of a very small number of personnel, and China has had to implement countermeasures against the relevant European personnel and entities, including the Swedish side." 

The Chinese ambassador urged Sweden and Europe to recognize the severity of their mistake and correct it immediately, and not use human rights as a pretext to violently interfere in China's internal affairs. 

The Chinese government is firmly determined to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, he added.