China’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday expressed China’s strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 signed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“China urges the U.S. to immediately correct its mistake and stop using the bill to harm China’s interests,” the Foreign Ministry said. “Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about fighting violence, terrorism, and separatism.”
The response came after Trump signed the law on Wednesday.
“We want to tell the United States that Xinjiang affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and no foreign interference is allowed,” the Foreign Ministry said.
“China will resolutely counteract (the U.S. move) and all consequences arising therefrom must be borne by the United States,” the statement added.
Under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, the president must provide a report to Congress that identifies officials responsible for torture and other inhumane treatment of Muslim minorities and others in Xinjiang no later than 180 days after the law’s enactment.
Those deemed responsible would face sanctions such as having their assets frozen, denial of entry into the United States and visa revocation. Both chambers of the Congress passed the bill in May with bipartisan support.
China has been criticised in the international community for detaining many Muslim Uighurs, who oppose growing state surveillance, under the “re-education” campaign. (Source: Mainichi Japan)