Here's a roundup of Uyghur-related news from the last week:
Uyghurs in Istanbul Protest China's Foreign Minister Visit to Turkey
Dozens of Uyghurs protested in Istanbul against Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Turkey, condemning the ongoing persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. They urged Turkish authorities to take action against what they call a genocide and crime against humanity by China. Turkey's stance on Uyghur rights has become less vocal because of growing economic ties with China.
Report Suggests China-based Operatives Hire Americans to Further Beijing’s Interests
According to a report by cybersecurity firm Mandiant, two protests in Washington were likely funded by pro-Beijing operatives. One of the protests was against the American ban on goods produced in China's Xinjiang region, where up to 2 million Uyghurs have been imprisoned and China has been accused of crimes against humanity. A Chinese Embassy spokesperson told CNN the accusation is “completely groundless and malicious speculation.”
US Senator Introduces Genetic Monitoring Bill That Targets China
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio introduced the Stopping Genetic Monitoring by China Act, aimed at keeping China from using genetic material for human rights abuses against Uyghurs, Tibetans and other ethnic groups. The legislation proposes cutting off the supply of American genetic technology to China. “There is zero evidence to support the claim of genocide in China," stated Chinese academic Zhang Tengjun in an article by Chinese state media Global Times.
US Considering Lifting Sanctions in Exchange for Fentanyl Deal with China
U.S. officials are considering lifting sanctions on a Chinese police institute suspected of involvement in human rights abuses in exchange for cooperation with China on countering fentanyl trafficking, The Wall Street Journal reported. In 2020, the Chinese police institute — the Ministry of Public Security's Institute of Forensic Science — was added to the U.S. export blacklist for its alleged involvement in abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
TikTok Runs Chinese State Media Ads Promoting Xinjiang Tourism in Europe
TikTok has been running ads from Chinese state media across Europe, promoting China's COVID-19 measures, tourism in Xinjiang and flattering narratives about China's economy, according to an analysis by Forbes. Some ads try to present Xinjiang as a tourist destination despite its human rights controversies. Over 1,000 such ads have been shown in European countries since October 2022. Ads shown outside Europe were not included in the data.
Shein Triples Washington Lobbying Bill Amid Congressional Scrutiny Over Forced Labor Concerns
The Washington lobbying bill for China’s online fast-fashion company, Shein, tripled to $600,000 last quarter as the company faces scrutiny over potential links to forced labor in Xinjiang. Lawmakers are questioning the company’s practices, and other countries are also investigating Shein. In June, a bipartisan House committee report tied Shein and another digital marketplace, Temu, to labor in Xinjiang, and suggested that packages from the companies entering the U.S. are likely to contain products made with forced labor.
SEC Urges Chinese Companies to Disclose Links to Uyghurs Amid Supply Chain Concerns
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is urging Chinese companies to disclose any links to Uyghurs in their business activities. Operating in Xinjiang or associating with companies located there could lead to compliance risks and supply chain disruptions because of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which blocks imports unless proven free of forced labor.
In brief
- U.S. Representatives Jennifer Wexton and Carlos A. Gimenez introduced the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act, aiming to crack down on imports linked to Uyghur forced labor in China's Xinjiang region. The proposed legislation would require publicly traded companies to disclose information about their products' links to forced labor in Xinjiang. The bill aims to address the exploitation of over 100,000 Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the region and ensure greater transparency in global supply chains. The act builds upon the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and seeks to hold companies accountable for importing goods produced through forced labor. China denies there is forced labor in Xinjiang.
Quote of note
“Products made with forced labor have no place on American store shelves. The American people deserve to know whether the clothes they wear or the technology they use every day was produced using forced labor. To make that happen we need greater scrutiny of goods sourced from the Chinese government’s prolific forced labor scheme involving the detention of tens of thousands of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.”
- U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton
