China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: "The US imposed illegal sanctions on Chinese officials under the pretext of a so-called human rights issue in Xinjiang in accordance with its domestic law."

"Such action seriously interferes in China’s internal affairs, seriously violates basic norms governing international relations and seriously undermines China-US relations. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this," Zhao said.

"In response to the above-mentioned erroneous practice of the US side, China has decided to take reciprocal countermeasures in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People’s Republic of China," he added.

"Effective today, China will take countermeasures against Chair Nadine Maenza, Vice Chair Nury Turkel, Commissioner Anurima Bhargava and Commissioner James W. Carr of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). These individuals are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. Their assets in China will be frozen, and Chinese citizens and institutions will be prohibited from doing business with them," the Chinese official said.

"It must be pointed out that Xinjiang affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and the US has no right and is in no position to interfere. The US should lift the so-called sanctions and stop interfering in Xinjiang affairs and China’s other internal affairs. China will make further response as the situation evolves," he added.