UK Parliament Bars China's Ambassador Over Sanctions Against British MPs

Envoy Zheng Zeguang was due Wednesday to address a group of members drawn from both the houses of Commons and Lords.

Leaders in the UK parliament on Tuesday barred a visit by China's new ambassador after Beijing slapped sanctions against critical British MPs.

Envoy Zheng Zeguang was due Wednesday to address a group of members drawn from both the houses of Commons and Lords who work on promoting UK-China relations.

But Iain Duncan Smith -- one of nine UK MPs and individuals sanctioned by China for opposing Communist Party policies, particularly those affecting Uyghurs in the northwest region of Xinjiang -- had said the visit would be "reprehensible".

Among the sanctions imposed on the parliamentarians and their family members in March were a travel ban prohibiting them from entering mainland China or the former UK colony of Hong Kong.