The Chinese international ministry mentioned on Monday that U.S. sanctions on two senior Chinese officers over alleged human rights abuses in Tibet have been unlawful and severely harmed Sino-U.S.-relations.

Read extra: China stops Covid tracking app, cases drop sharply from all-time highs: 7 points

The US Treasury Department mentioned on Friday it imposed sanctions on Wu Yingjie, the Chinese Communist Party chief in Tibet between 2016 and 2021, and Zhang Hongbo, a senior public safety official within the area.

China has been accused of harsh insurance policies to quell ethnic dissent and management spiritual actions in Tibet — accusations that China rejects.