Recently, US Congress affirmed a legislation imposing sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for the oppression of Uighur Muslims. The move has ruffled diplomatic feathers between the United States and China, adding to existing tensions in their bilateral relations.
Sanctions on Chinese Officials: The Legislation Details
In a bold move, the US House of Representatives has approved a bill that mandates sanctions against Chinese officials who are held accountable for the repression of Uighurs and other Muslim groups in China’s Xinjiang province. This bill is a step towards countering China’s human rights abuses, specifically aimed at Uighurs. It sends a potent message that the Chinese government cannot act with impunity.
United Nations approximations indicate that more than one million Uighurs Muslims and other largely Muslim minority groups have been confined in camps in Xinjiang during a crackdown. Reportedly, these detainees are subjected to forced labor. Hence, the bill also obliges US companies or individuals functioning in the Xinjiang region to ensure they are not inadvertently supporting this forced labor by incorporating such products into their supply chains.
The proposed legislation will require the presidential consent to come into effect. As such, it now awaits President Donald Trump’s decision to either veto or sign it into law.
Strained US-China Relations: The Larger Context
The approval of this legislation is an addition to the escalating tension in recent US-China relations. Many noteworthy developments have marked this rift:
1. Covid-19 Blame: The US President has repeatedly blamed China for exacerbating the Covid-19 pandemic.
2. Trade War: The rise in the trade war between the USA and China.
3. Issue of Panchen Lama: Disputes over the release of Tibetan Buddhism’s 11th Panchen Lama, who was taken captive at the age of six.
4. Hong Kong’s Autonomy: China’s approval for new national security legislation in Hong Kong has raised concerns in the US.
5. South China Sea: Disputes over China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Uighur Muslims: Who Are They?
The Uighurs are predominantly a Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group, with origins traceable to Central and East Asia. One of the 55 officially recognized ethnic minority communities in China, the Uighurs are mostly concentrated in the Xinjiang region of China. However, the Chinese government acknowledges them only as a regional minority and refuses to recognize them as an indigenous group. Notably, a significant population of Uighurs also resides in the neighboring Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
The Global Response and Way Forward
With the US withdrawing from major global deals and taking a backseat on the world stage, China has seemingly become more assertive. Consequently, it is now up to the global community to hold major powers accountable in compliance with international laws and humanitarian values to prevent the violation of human rights. The passage of this bill by the US is a stride towards this goal.
