Local residents walk in a street at a scenic spot in the ancient city of Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China on May 16 (XINHUA) 

China has decided to impose corresponding sanctions on an institution and four individuals of the United States with immediate effect for "acting viciously" on issues related to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on July 13.

According to spokesperson Hua Chunying at a daily press briefing, the sanctions will be applied to the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Chris Smith, and Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.

"The U.S. practice constitutes serious interference in China's internal affairs, a severe violation of basic norms governing international relations, and grave harm to China-U.S. relations," Hua said. "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns such moves."

Hua pointed out Xinjiang affairs are entirely China's internal affairs, and the United States has no right, and is in no position, to intervene. "The Chinese government is determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, combat violent terrorism, separatism and religious extremism, and opposes foreign interference in Xinjiang affairs and China's other internal affairs," said the spokesperson.