Following The European Union, The United States Imposes Sanctions Against China Regarding Human Rights Violations In Xinjiang

JAKARTA - The United States has announced sanctions against two Chinese officials in connection with human rights violations against the Uighur Muslim ethnic minority in Xinjiang. This move follows a similar announcement by the European Union.

In its announcement Monday, March 22 yesterday, the United States Department of Finance said that the transfer of these sanctions was coordinated by their European Union partners, Britain and Canada.

The European Union announced its own sanctions, followed by the appointment of the United States and then a joint statement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Ministers of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance comprising the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Those who are subject to sanctions by the United States include the head of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Wang Junzhen, and Director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau Chen Mingguo.

The two were charged with Executive Order (EO) 13818, which builds on and implements the Magnitsky Global Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption.

"The Chinese authorities will continue to face consequences as long as the atrocities occur in Xinjiang", said Andrea M. Gacki, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, United States Department of the Treasury, as reported by CNN.

"The Ministry of Finance is committed to promoting accountability for the Chinese government's human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and torture, of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities", he continued.

Separately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described China's campaign against the Uighurs as a form of genocide.

"Amid growing international condemnation, the PRC continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang", Blinken said in a statement, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China.

"The United States reiterates its call for China to end the persecution of the Uighurs, who are mostly Muslim and members of other ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, including by releasing all those arbitrarily detained in internment camps and detention facilities", added Blinken.

Meanwhile, Five Eyes Intelligence in a joint statement said that the sanctions imposed were by the evidence obtained.

"The evidence, including from the Chinese Government's own documents, satellite imagery, and eyewitness testimony is overwhelming. China's extensive persecution program includes strict restrictions on religious freedom, the use of forced labor, mass detention in internment camps, forced sterilization, and destruction together on the Uighur heritage", the statement said.