Dutch Trade Minister, Previously Sanctioned by China, to Visit; Beijing: "Upholding Open and Pragmatic Spirit"

(CNA Taipei, July 6) -- Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the Dutch Trade Minister who was publicly sanctioned by China in 2021, is scheduled to visit China on July 7 and meet with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. When asked if China had lifted sanctions against Sjoerdsma, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning did not directly answer today, only stating that China "upholds an open and pragmatic spirit" to advance dialogue and cooperation between the two sides.

On March 22, 2021, in retaliation for the EU's sanctions against four officials for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced sanctions against 10 European individuals and 4 entities. These included five Members of the European Parliament, five European national parliamentarians and scholars including Sjoerdsma, then a member of the Dutch parliament, and four institutions including the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights.

The sanctioned individuals and their family members were prohibited from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and from engaging in interactions with Chinese entities.

In April 2025, the European Parliament announced that China had agreed to lift the "sanctions" against five European parliamentarians. However, to date, China has not publicly announced the lifting of sanctions against Sjoerdsma and others. Sjoerdsma took office as Dutch Trade Minister this year.

At today's regular press conference of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reporter asked if Sjoerdsma's visit to China on Tuesday to meet with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, given that Sjoerdsma was sanctioned by China in 2021, indicates that China has lifted its sanctions against him, and what China's expectations are for this visit.

Mao Ning stated that specific details of the visit should be inquired with the relevant authorities. China and the Netherlands are important cooperative partners. Upholding an open and pragmatic spirit to advance dialogue and cooperation is in the common interests of both countries. We welcome the strengthening of dialogue and exchanges between the commerce departments of the two countries on the basis of mutual respect, to deepen bilateral relations.

Previously, Marco Rubio, who was sanctioned by China during his tenure as a U.S. Senator and later became U.S. Secretary of State, also successfully accompanied U.S. President Trump on a visit to China in May of this year. (Editor: Zhu Jianling / Lu Jiarong) 1150706

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