“Amid growing international condemnation, the [People’s Republic of China] continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity ”in the Xinjiang region, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “The United States reiterates its calls to the PRC to end the crackdown on Uighurs, who are predominantly Muslims, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, including the release of all arbitrarily detained in internment camps and detention centers. . “
Blinken, who is in Europe this week visiting counterparts, added: “These actions demonstrate our continued commitment to working multilaterally to advance respect for human rights and enlighten those in the PRC government and [Chinese Communist Party] responsible for these atrocities. “
The US sanctions targeted two individuals: Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Party Committee, and Chen Mingguo, director of the Xinjiang Department of Public Security.
According to the US Treasury Department, the XPCC is a paramilitary organization that “enhances internal control over the region, promoting China’s vision of economic development in [Xinjiang] which emphasizes subordination to central planning and resource extraction. “
The Treasury also added that “at least since the end of 2016, repressive tactics have been used by the XPSB against Uighurs and members of other ethnic minorities in the region, including mass arrests and surveillance.”
Both the XPSB and the XPCC have already been sanctioned by the United States. Wang and Chen are being sanctioned by the Global Magnitsky Act, which means that the assets they may have in the US are frozen and the Americans cannot do business with them.
It is difficult to say exactly how much financial damage the new sanctions will cause, but given the coordination with Europe, Britain and Canada, it is a symbolic blow.
The EU passed sanctions on Monday morning against four Chinese officials involved in the internment of hundreds of thousands of Uighurs. In response, the Chinese government sanctioned 10 individuals and four entities in Europe, claiming that “they seriously damage China’s sovereignty and interests and spread lies and misinformation maliciously”.
The EU sanctions were considered the first in the bloc to target China’s human rights since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
Canada, meanwhile, announced that it is imposing sanctions on four individuals and one entity, but a press release did not identify those targets.
Blinken was among American officials who met with top Chinese officials in Anchorage last week. The meeting began with harsh words from both sides, with Blinken warning the Chinese that the United States did not view human rights abuses in places like Xinjiang as purely domestic issues, but as threats to the international rule-based order.
Stuart Lau contributed reporting.