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In response to the UK's unilateral move over the Xinjiang row, China sanctioned UK individuals and entities on Friday. The decision is justified. It's also a warning to anti-Beijing Westerners repeatedly attempting to challenge China's bottom line.

The West has long harbored ideological biases against socialist China. This is not a secret. But in recent years, the U.S.-led Western bloc has intensified its anti-Beijing campaign tremendously. From attempts to instigate the color revolution in Hong Kong to repeated lies about human right conditions in Xinjiang and Tibet, the West is launching an all-front propaganda war against China.

Decades after the Cold War, this is an alarming sign that calls for cooperation.

Xinjiang is a political issue. The West hypes the so-called forced labor, torture and sterilization in the region, but has provided no solid evidence so far. A key source for Xinjiang allegations is Adrian Zenz. The far-right Christian fundamentalist is reportedly funded by Western governments. His claim is found "contradicted by flagrant data abuse, fraudulent claims, cherry-picking of source material, and propagandistic misrepresentations," according to The Grayzone.

Apparently, China hawks are using the Xinjiang issue as a weapon to discredit China and incentive the idea of decoupling.

And "human rights" are an easy tool to unite Western countries. Political bias is what's behind the systematically fabricated lies on Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. Making China an enemy of the entire Western "camp" is the ultimate purpose of these lies.

Under the banner of "human rights", the UK and the EU are earnestly seeking "politically correct" values at the cost of their ties with China, ignoring facts on Xinjiang.

But is it a wise choice?

The Chinese government has reiterated its determination to safeguard its core interests. By sanctioning UK MPs, lawyers, and entities, Beijing is demonstrating that any attempt to interfere in Chinese internal affairs will invite countermeasures. 

China has the determination and strength to make the West pay the price of provocation.

But don't assume the latest punishment as the worst scenario for the UK. Friday's move is also a warning against further provocation. If the UK goes further down the wrong path, China will take more drastic measures – not limited to the current sanctions. There's no doubt about it.

And the UK can't afford to ignore this warning.

In addition to the countermeasures at a government level, Chinese people won't tolerate provocations on China's national dignity either. The fate of H&M in China – all its products were removed from major Chinese e-commerce platforms within a day after its Xinjiang statement came to light – is enough to explain.

A multipolar world, not East vs. West pattern, is in the best interest of the UK. This is particularly true after the country's divorce from the EU. At the time when the UK is still struggling with COVID-19 and its slowing economy, Downing Street has to make the right choice between the need to develop itself and the ideological fight against Beijing.

China and the UK have no fundamental conflicts. Despite their political differences, the two countries have accomplished much, with heady talks about "golden era" of their ties in previous years. Before pioneering in the U.S.-led propaganda war against Beijing, London needs to think twice whether it's worth sacrificing ties with China and consequently its interests to seek "politically correct" values that are based on lies and disinformation.

Advancing human rights is a common goal in the world. China's efforts in improving its human right conditions can never be underestimated. On the contrary, the U.S.-led Western bloc is repeatedly showing its contempt for human rights by packaging it as a weapon for ideological warfare.

Certain malicious forces, in the pursuit of decoupling, are using "human rights" to make China an enemy of the entire Western "camp." The UK should base its China policy on its national interests. Otherwise, it is bound to pay for seeking lies-based "political correctness" at the cost of China's core interests.

Scriptwriter: Liu Jianxi

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