China has taken a decisive step by announcing the ban of a United States research company, Kharon, and two analysts, Edmund Xu and Nicole Morgret, who have extensively reported on alleged human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, the far northwestern region of China. The ban includes travel restrictions to China, freezing of any assets or property in the country, and a prohibition on transactions or cooperation with them by organizations and individuals in China.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declared the sanctions as a response to the yearly U.S. government report on human rights in Xinjiang. Uyghurs and other natives of the region, sharing religious and cultural ties with Central Asia, have long resisted the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to assimilate them with the majority Han ethnic group.
Nicole Morgret, affiliated with the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, emphasized in a June 2022 paper that the Chinese government’s industrialization drive in Xinjiang involves coerced labor, contributing to the forced assimilation of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples.
China has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses, attributing the existence of prison-like facilities to counter extremist tendencies and provide job skills. Former inmates, however, describe harsh conditions, lack of legal process, and forced denunciation of their culture in favor of loyalty to President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party.
The Chinese government claims that the camps are now closed, but former inmates reportedly face lengthy prison sentences elsewhere. Strict control over access to the region and limited movement for Uyghurs, Kazaks, and other minorities make independent verification challenging.
Mao Ning stated that the U.S. report disseminated false information and imposed illegal sanctions on Chinese officials and companies. He warned of reciprocal actions if the U.S. does not alter its course, emphasizing China’s unwavering response.
Amid ongoing tensions, the U.S. has imposed visa bans and various sanctions on numerous Chinese officials, including those from Hong Kong. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of China’s former defense minister and the replacement of the foreign minister without explanation fuel speculation of a purge by Xi Jinping.
The response from Kharon’s director, Edmund Xu, and human rights analyst Nicole Morgret remains unknown, and their level of connection, if any, with the U.S. government is unclear. The ban underscores the intensifying diplomatic friction between China and the U.S. over human rights issues, with both sides showing little sign of backing down.
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