China has imposed sanctions on two Canadian organizations and 20 individuals involved in advocacy for Tibet and East Turkestan (referred to as Xinjiang by China). The Chinese foreign ministry announced the sanctions on Sunday, with the measures taking effect the previous day. The move is seen as retaliation for Canada’s recent actions against Chinese officials over human rights violations.
The targeted organizations are the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP). The sanctions include freezing any property of the organizations and individuals within China’s jurisdiction and barring their entry into China, including Hong Kong and Macao. Among the individuals named are Sherap Therchin, executive director of the Canada Tibet Committee, and Samphel Lhalungpa, chair of the organization. Former Canadian diplomat Charles Burton and Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, policy advisers for the URAP, were also listed.
Reactions to Sanctions
Sherap Therchin, speaking to The Globe and Mail, downplayed the impact of the sanctions, noting, “This just makes it more formal. Members knew from the day they joined the organisation that they would no longer be permitted to visit or own assets there.” He highlighted the ongoing repression faced by Tibetans in China, stating, “Tibetans who speak out over issues such as mass relocation, environmental degradation, or the phasing out of the Tibetan language in primary education are met with repression. Having banned content on one’s phone or merely contacting Tibetans in exile can result in detention.”
The Canada Tibet Committee issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to non-violent advocacy within the framework of human rights and democracy. “These sanctions formalise the PRC’s long-standing practice of denying diaspora Tibetans access to their homeland, but public participation in a democratic society is not a crime in Canada. We call on the Canadian government to protect those sanctioned and stand with our Uyghur and Canadian allies. This move strengthens our resolve to continue advocating for justice and an end to repression in Tibet,” the statement read.
The organization’s statement also called attention to the experiences of Tibetans in exile who are systematically denied access to their homeland. “These sanctions highlight a broader pattern of transnational repression against Tibetans. Yet, our community remains steadfast in its commitment to preserve our cultural heritage and advocate for human rights in Tibet,” they added.
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) also condemned the sanctions, calling them retaliatory and aimed at silencing human rights defenders. “These sanctions targeting two organizations actively advocating for Uyghur and Tibetan rights in Canada are clearly retaliatory. They aim to intimidate human rights defenders from these persecuted communities into silence,” said the WUC in a statement. “The WUC strongly condemns all acts of transnational repression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and stands in full solidarity with the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada Tibet Committee.”
A Call to Action
Advocates have urged Tibetan communities and allies to respond to these sanctions with renewed solidarity. Speaking on behalf of the Canada Tibet Committee, Samphel Lhalungpa noted, “This is a time for the Tibetan diaspora and supporters to come together and reaffirm our commitment to justice and freedom. China’s actions, far from silencing us, will only strengthen our resolve.”
The sanctions also serve as a reminder of the importance of continued advocacy, particularly in highlighting the systemic denial of rights and cultural erasure faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule. Organizations have called on international governments to condemn the sanctions and protect human rights defenders.
Canada’s Previous Actions
The Chinese sanctions follow Canada’s imposition of penalties earlier this month on eight former and current Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses in Tibet and East Turkestan. Among those targeted by Canada were Chen Quanguo, the former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang, and Wu Yingjie, the former party head of Tibet.
China denies allegations of human rights violations in Tibet and East Turkestan, insisting its policies promote stability and economic development. It has accused Western nations of interfering in its internal affairs.
Strained Canada-China Relations
Tensions between Canada and China have been high since 2018, when Canada detained Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States. In response, China detained two Canadian citizens on espionage charges. Although all three individuals were eventually released, relations remain fraught.
For the Tibetan community, these sanctions symbolize the ongoing challenges of advocating for their homeland from afar. As one Tibetan exile remarked, “The sanctions are just another layer of repression. But our spirit is unyielding. We will continue to fight for our people, our culture, and our freedom.”
The latest sanctions underscore the ongoing diplomatic rift and the growing divide over human rights and governance. Advocacy groups and governments alike are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need for solidarity in the face of transnational repression.