The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China expressed a strong protest to the European Union for sanctions on China due to the so-called oppression of the Uyghur national minority in Xinjiang, TASS reported.

The ministry has summoned the head of the EU delegation in Beijing on this issue.

These are groundless sanctions devoid of rationality, Qin Gang, China's deputy foreign minister, noted.

The Chinese diplomat noted that the EU could face serious consequences and cause even more serious damage to relations with China.