Beijing: On Sunday, China announced it would impose countermeasures against two Canadian organizations and 20 individuals involved in human rights issues related to the Uyghur and Tibetan communities. The measures, which took effect on Saturday, include asset freezes and travel bans. Among the targets are the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada-Tibet Committee, as reported by China's foreign ministry on its website.

Human rights groups accuse China of widespread abuses against the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim minority group of around 10 million people in the Xinjiang region, including forced labor in camps, which Beijing denies.

China asserts control over Tibet, claiming its 1950 military intervention was a "peaceful liberation" from feudalism. However, international human rights organizations and exiles have repeatedly criticized China's rule over Tibet as oppressive.

Regarding the two institutions, China stated it is freezing their assets, including movable and immovable property, within the country. Additionally, 15 individuals from the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and five from the Canada-Tibet Committee are facing asset freezes and are banned from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

The Canadian embassy in Beijing did not respond to requests for comment, and neither Reuters nor Global Affairs Canada received an immediate reply from the involved rights groups.