Australia confronts China’s treatment of Uygurs as retailers investigate forced labour claims
- There are 10 Australian permanent residents – including a two-year-old Australian citizen – allegedly detained in Xinjiang
- Separately, Australia’s defence force chief says climate change may allow Beijing to occupy Pacific Islands
Payne made the remarks to Radio National ahead of an ABC Four Corners investigation on treatment of Uygurs, which has prompted retailers Cotton On and Target Australia to commit to investigate their supply chains because they reportedly source cotton from Xinjiang.
These Uygurs fled to Australia to escape persecution but China’s crackdown followed them
Asked about the detention of more than 1 million Uygurs, Payne said Australia was “deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including the use of detention facilities”.
“Those concerns have been raised with China regularly including by me directly in my visit last year,” Payne said.
“A letter was signed to the president of the Human Rights Council and the UN high commissioner for human rights a week or so ago – we were one of 22 signatories to that letter – and I think what that reflects is an increasing international focus on the developments in Xinjiang.”
That letter, which called for an end to mass arbitrary detention, prompted a fierce backlash from China. It accused the signatories of having “wantonly criticised and smeared China in total disregard for the truth” and said that by “blatantly politicising the issue of human rights, they have grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs”.
“We do request consular access when we are notified of such a detention,” she said. “It’s very important to note there are complex family arrangements around family members who are in Xinjiang.
“But if they’re not Australian citizens we don’t have an entitlement to consular access, [and] China doesn’t allow consular access to dual nationals unless they’ve actually entered China on their Australian passports, so that does add to the complexity.”
Asked if China’s claims officials from the 22 signatory countries had declined an invitation to visit, Payne replied: “I don’t understand that to be the case.
“We have sought diplomatic visits in the past … and those requests, as far as I’m aware, have not been granted.”
Payne committed to continue to seek access to Xinjiang and “press our concerns” through the Human Rights Council and directly with China.
Payne was also asked about comments by Australia’s defence force chief, Angus Campbell, reported in the Australian Financial Review, that China could take advantage of climate change to occupy abandoned islands in the Pacific.
While not naming China, Campbell reportedly told a forum on climate change and national security in June that the potential for territorial expansion could be opened up if smaller islands were abandoned as a result of rising sea levels.
“If other states see the opportunity to occupy uninhabited spaces then it could introduce new tension into our region,” he reportedly said.
In response, Payne noted at the Pacific Islands Forum in 2018 Australia had signed the Boe Declaration, which she said “identifies climate change clearly as a key security issue”.
“We are very focused on our engagement on climate in the region,” she said.
Payne said Australia’s infrastructure financing facility in the Pacific would help climate adaptation and resilience through investments in energy, transport, communications and water.
