The Commerce Department released sanctions against 11 Chinese companies over concerns that the companies were assisting the Chinese government with the oppression of Uighur minorities in the northwestern province of Xinjiang.
The companies represent a wide range of businesses, with apparel and technology manufacturers run alongside high-tech companies involved in gene sequencing, and all are accused of using forced labor in Xinjiang province, where thousands are believed to be. Uighur Muslims are detained in detention camps. , which China frequently denies.
“Beijing actively promotes the reprehensible practice of forced labor and abusive DNA collection and analysis schemes to repress its citizens,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross
Wilbur Louis Ross Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross hospitalized: Hillicon Valley reports: lawmakers turn to Twitter after massive attack | United States, United Kingdom, and Canada Allege Russian Hackers Attacked COVID-19 Vaccine Investigators | The main data transfer agreement of the EU court rules with the US is illegal he said in a statement. “This action will ensure that our goods and technologies are not used in the Chinese Communist Party’s despicable offensive against defenseless Muslim minorities.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded in a statement obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, accusing the Trump administration of trying to sabotage Chinese industries without evidence of the companies’ alleged crimes.
“What the United States is concerned about is not human rights issues at all, but suppressing Chinese companies, undermining Xinjiang’s stability and blurring China’s Xinjiang policies,” spokesman Wang Wenbin said, according to the AP. “We urge the United States to correct its mistakes, overturn relevant decisions and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.”
According to the AP, Wang promised that Beijing “would take all necessary measures” to protect China and Chinese companies.
The Chinese government previously moved to sanction several U.S. lawmakers after a previous round of U.S. punitive measures attacked senior Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses.
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