Germany on Tuesday called in China's ambassador for "urgent talks" after Beijing slapped sanctions on European officials for EU measures over the crackdown on the Uyghurs, the foreign ministry said. "The Chinese ambassador, Wu Ken, was called in for urgent talks with state secretary Miguel Berger," the ministry said. Berger "made clear the German government's view that China's sanctions against European MPs, scientists and political institutions as well as non-governmental organisations represent an inappropriate escalation that unnecessarily strains ties between the EU and China". dlc/mfp/pvh