China has decided to sanction 10 individuals and four entities in the European Union for severely harming China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spreading lies and disinformation, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Monday.

The sanctions, announced in a statement published on the ministry's website, came after the EU imposed unilateral sanctions on four Chinese individuals and one entity on Monday, citing the so-called human rights issues in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"The EU's move, based on nothing but lies and disinformation, disregards and distorts facts, grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations and severely undermines China-EU relations," the statement said.