U.S. and allies announce new China sanctions over human rights abuses against Uyghurs

The Biden administration on Monday sanctioned two Chinese officials for their roles in serious human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

China’s Wang Junzheng, the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau, were sanctioned for their connection to the “arbitrary detention and severe physical abuse, among other serious human rights abuses targeting Uyghurs,” the Department of Treasury said in a statement Monday.

Treasury accused China of using repressive tactics for the last five years against Uyghurs and other members of ethnic minorities in the region, including mass detentions and surveillance.

“Targets of this surveillance are often detained and reportedly subjected to various methods of torture and “political reeducation,” Treasury wrote in a statement.

Beijing has previously rejected U.S. charges that it has committed genocide against the Uyghurs, a Muslim population indigenous to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China.

“Amid growing international condemnation, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “We will continue to stand with our allies around the world in calling for an immediate end to the PRC’s crimes and for justice for the many victims,” the nation’s top diplomat added.

The sanctions by the Biden administration complement actions also taken today by the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada.

China has also said that allegations of its use of detention camps are groundless and that it instead uses facilities to provide vocational training to help stamp out Islamist extremism and separatism.

The sanctions come on the heels of a contentious meeting between Blinken and national security advisor Jake Sullivan, and China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Wang Yi in Alaska.

Ahead of the talks, Blinken slammed China’s sweeping use of “coercion and aggression” on the international stage and warned that the U.S. will mount pushback if necessary.

“China uses coercion and aggression to systematically erode autonomy in Hong Kong, undercut democracy in Taiwan, abuse human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and assert maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law,” Blinken said at a news conference in Japan.

President Joe Biden, who spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, has previously said that his approach to China would be different from his predecessor’s in that he would work more closely with allies in order to mount pushback against Beijing.

“We will confront China’s economic abuses,” Biden said in a speech at the State Department, describing Beijing as America’s “most serious competitor.”

“But we’re also ready to work with Beijing when it’s in America’s interest to do so. We’ll compete from a position of strength by building back better at home and working with our allies and partners.”

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[ssl]

I'm just so touched! US does not like Muslim, US does not like Chinese, but they do really love Chinese Muslim! What a great manner!

[JHunt-qhek]

Who is punishing the U.S. for it's human rights abuses?

[HowardDeng-iwyk]

I think they should't make any excuses sanctioning China, they should just be honest and say we are sanctioning them because we don't want them to be stronger than us.

[kikbut]

Almost everyone in this country believed Iraq had massive destructive weapons when US started Iraq war. But years later, turned out it was completely a lie. Any lesson people ever learned?

[cntronix]

Xinjiang is open, China is open, as long as buy a ticket to xinjiang from ctrip now, China's largest travel APP, due the outbreak, now go to xinjiang is still very preferential price, it's easy to verify for anyone

[sc]

Welcome to China and have sightseeing in Xinjiang! A peaceful area with beautiful scenes, friendly people, and delicious food, without terrorism and gun shooting.

[jasona]

How the talks went?...china basically told us to mind our own business and stated we no longer hold a position of strength to do anything bout it

[makanaki]

US46: crimes against asian Americans must stop
Also US46: * sanctions china*

* upholds chinese muslim rights after bombing the hell out of the middle East muslim states *
US of A, you got urselves a live one

[justbe]

Can we not sanction our entire political government system here in the US by the people for crimes against its own people?

[leenaright]

Meanwhile down at the mexican border...

[MrJaccTrippa]

They mad China brought up US human rights issues against black people when they met in Alaska

[calripson]

U.S. and allies have also announced sanctions on Israel over human rights abuses against Palestinians. Think you will ever read that headline?

[SC-bcyh]

One of my colleagues is a Uighur, so I showed him this news and ask him what really happened in Xinjiang. He told me it’s a BS lie

[charlescongpeiji]

After seeing the US taking, ”I can’t breathe”

[yojimbe]

Mums the word though on the genocide in Yemen with help from the US government through military support and weapons to Saudi Arabia.

[Doggiedodo]

Poor U.S. can’t even believing we are so behind.

[bbharatillusion]

USA angry after being slapped around in Alaska and the UN..🤣 🤣 🤣

[sannei]

somebody killed muslims in afghanistan in iraq in syria but
concerned about human rights of muslims in xinjiang

[Teresabigsalad]

everyone talks about xinjiang like an expert, but no one has actually been there. it tells you something

[ronmcmartin]

Sanctions include a Tariff of 10% to the Big Guy