Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

China is appalled by the US sanctioning officials of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday, in response to a question about the US State Department's announcement of the sanctions.

We find it disappointing and hard to understand that the US keeps turning a blind eye to the international effort for peace. The question of Palestine lies at the heart of the Middle East issue. It is a matter of international fairness and justice. As the Palestinian question is at a crucial historical juncture, the international community, the US in particular, should uphold justice and fairness, take on responsibility, earnestly implement relevant UN resolutions, and make an active effort for the proper settlement of the question rather than do the opposite, Guo said. 

China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, the PA's effective jurisdiction over all of Palestine's territory, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Palestinian question on the basis of the two-state solution. China will continue to work with the international community to make relentless efforts for that, the spokesperson said. 

The US State Department announced on Thursday sanctions against the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority, denying organization members visas for the US, citing claims that the groups are "continuing to support terrorism," according to Politico. 

The report said that the move comes as Canada and a growing number of European countries have vowed to recognize Palestinian statehood ahead of September's United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

Global Times