US anti-Uyghur Bill & China’s response
US-China trade stand-off has now turned into dirty power politics in which the US and Western mass media accused Chinese government about its so-called poor human rights situation in Xinjiang region and showed great concerns about so-called forced labour. In reality both do not have any substance and largely based on false, fake and fictional propaganda of the Western mass media against China.
It seems that falling economic conditions and weakening future socio-economic prospects have forced the US to start another round of futile game of whoopla against China.
Moreover, Omicron is now spreading like a fire in the jungle in most of the West, especially USA, UK, France, Germany and many other countries are now in the line of fire which is indeed a sign of failure of so-called perfect health systems of the West due to which the US Administration has switched its mantra from domestic issues to more focus of international relations and accused China on so-called issue of forced labour and completely banned imports from Xinjiang region.
In this connection, most recently, the US President Joe Biden signed a new law which banned imports from China’s Xinjiang region over concerns about forced labour.
The said law was pushed by members of the United States Congress, and consequently, the law has now passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate by unanimous votes earlier this month. The legislation provides for sanctions on any individuals the US determines are responsible for forced labour in Xinjiang.
Interestingly, it will complicate supply chains for some US companies that source material from China. Thus supply chain issue will be acting like a wandering soul during 2022.
On its part, China dismisses accusations of abuses against mostly Muslim Uighur minorities in the northwestern Xinjiang region as lies.
Moreover, it has rejected allegations of abuse in Xinjiang, accusing countries and rights organisations of launching slanderous attacks about conditions for Muslim Uighurs and other minorities in the far western region.
The US law surfaced amid mounting tensions, including appeals by activists for a boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022.
Now US law prohibits US businesses from importing goods from Xinjiang unless they can be proven not to have been made by forced labour.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Zhao Lijian termed it baseless, untrue and labeled the US law as maligned tactics of the US about the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang region.
Moreover, it seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations and grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs,” Zhao added. In this context, China deplores and firmly rejects this.”
Unfortunately, the West and especially the US has been accusing China about so-called deteriorating socio-economic conditions and ethnic marginalization of Uighurs and other minorities living in Xinjiang region of using forced abortions, forced labour and mass indoctrination.
The Chinese officials always reject the accusations, saying the camps are meant for job training, re-education and to combat radicalism.
In this regard, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao termed these accusations as “vicious lies concocted by anti-China forces” and residents of all ethnic groups living peacefully and enjoy happy and fulfilling lives in Xinjiang region.
Chinese state media have criticised foreign footwear, clothing and other brands that express concern about Xinjiang and publicized calls for boycotts of their goods. In addition to this, even chipmaker Intel Corp apologised for asking suppliers to avoid sourcing goods from Xinjiang, a major source of silica used in processor chips.
Most recently, an independent UK-based tribunal ruled the Chinese government had committed genocide, crimes against humanity and torture of Uighurs and other minorities which Chinese government has strongly rejected and termed it untrue and fake.
In retaliation China has now announced sanctions on four members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom for penalties imposed on Chinese officials for the alleged abuses in the region.
The Biden Administration also imposed trade sanctions on several Chinese companies and institutions, a number of Chinese technology companies, accusing the government in Beijing of advancing high-tech surveillance on the Uighurs.
The move by the US Department of Commerce added China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and its 11 research institutes to a US list of companies and institutions subject to export controls.
Moreover, the US placed Chinese artificial intelligence start-up Sense Time Group on a US investment blacklist forcing the company to postpone a planned $767m Hong Kong initial public offering.
In this regard, China’s Xinjiang regional government called the US so-called Uygur forced labour prevention act as an open interference in China’s internal affairs with a purpose to contain China which shows the US bullying logic and revival of a Cold War mentality.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of China also said that it will take firm and strong countermeasures if the US insists on acting arbitrarily.
Xu, a Member of Foreign Affairs Committee told the media that the US bill seriously distorted the actual situation in Xinjiang. The region has been earnestly implementing relevant laws in the region and strictly forbid any forced labor.
Xinjiang maintains the concept of enabling the people to lead a better life, and earnestly respects and protects the legitimate rights and interests of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.
It firmly condemns any form of ethnic discrimination and strictly prohibits any form of forced labour, ensuring that people of all ethnic groups work decently.
The so-called Uygur forced labour prevention act seriously violated the international laws and norms of international relations. Based on Forced Labour Convention, Xinjiang does not have the “forced labour” problem.
Their devil’s claws stretched too long and has gone beyond the scope of the law to become a kind of political manipulation and a parody, Xu added.
It is reality that since the end of 2018, the region has received visits by official delegation from the UN, envoys from Africa, Latin America and Arab States as well as foreign religious organizations, scholars and internet influencers from more than 100 countries and regions. It is now self-evident that the US and the Western propaganda does not have any substance.
—The writer is Director, Geopolitics/Economics, Regional geopolitical expert of China, CPEC & BRI.
