Yang Xiaoguang, chargé d'affaires and minister of China's embassy in the UK, met with Nigel Adams, minister of State at the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Friday, and lodged solemn representations on the UK's recent announcement to impose unilateral sanctions against China.

Yang said the UK side, by imposing unilateral sanctions against Chinese individuals and entities based on lies and disinformation and in the name of so-called "human rights issues" in Xinjiang, has blatantly violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and gravely undermined China-UK relations.

The Chinese side expresses its strong opposition, severe condemnation and firm protest, Yang said. China remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, he added.

In response to the so-called "concerns" of the UK side over China's decision to impose sanctions against the relevant individuals and entities on the UK side who have maliciously spread lies and disinformation, Yang said China's counter measures are legitimate, reasonable, proportionate and beyond reproach.

The individuals and entities on the UK side in the sanction list were in no way exercising so-called "freedom of speech", Yang said, adding they were actually slinging malicious slanders against China, which gravely harmed China's image, severely infringed upon China's interests and seriously undermined China-UK relations.

Their acts have caused strong indignation among the Chinese people, Yang said. "The Chinese side never stirs up trouble, but we are not afraid of trouble."

He added, "We hope that the UK side will immediately take effective measures to correct its wrongs and take concrete steps to foster favorable conditions for the healthy development of China-UK relations."