US disappointed in China’s actions in Xinjiang two years after UN human rights report

In the UN report two years ago – its most recent involving Xinjiang – the commission found that China’s actions “may constitute international crimes, particularly crimes against humanity”, the State Department noted.

“We again urge [Beijing] to take immediate action to end these ongoing atrocities,” the department said in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with partners across the international community to seek justice for the many victims.”

Washington added it would persist in efforts to hold accountable “individuals and entities perpetrating human-rights violations and abuses” without elaborating.

But it stated it recognised and welcomed the UN commission’s continued efforts to engage with Beijing on human-rights issues and on enacting recommendations contained in the 2022 report.

While it has held “detailed exchanges” with Beijing on a “range of critical” human-rights issues, the Geneva- based UN body said it still faced difficulties of “limited access to information and the fear of reprisals against individuals who engage with the United Nations”.

Over China’s strong opposition, the UN’s 2022 report was issued in the final hours of then-UN high commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s tenure.

Washington and human-rights activists have pointed to satellite imagery, leaked Chinese government documents and eyewitness accounts as evidence that more than 1 million Uygurs have faced mass detention, political indoctrination and forced labour.

Beijing has repeatedly denied the claims, arguing that lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty is also a human right.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately comment on the US statement.

The EU’s ban, which does not name Xinjiang but was written with the northwestern Chinese territory in mind, will take effect in three years.