It is the first time for three decades either institution has punished China for human rights abuses
The EU and the UK have both crossed a political rubicon by imposing parallel sanctions on a small group of senior Chinese officials involved in the mass internment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province.
The steps were announced by the EU foreign affairs council and the UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab. It is the first time for three decades either institution has punished China for human rights abuses, and both will now be working hard to contain the potential political and economic fallout.