Chinese company BGI Group rejects rights accusation after US sanctions

Three BGI units were among Chinese companies added to an ‘entity list’ last week that limits access to US technology on security or human rights grounds

BGI Group, one of the world’s biggest genetics analysis companies, said: ‘BGI Group does not condone and would never be involved in any human-rights abuses’

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The flags of the US and China. BGI Group said on Sunday it would never be involved in human rights abuses after the US government said there was a danger some of its units might contribute to Chinese surveillance. Photo: AP

Published: 2:57am, 6 Mar 2023Updated: 8:33am, 6 Mar 2023

BGI Group, one of the world’s biggest genetics analysis companies, said on Sunday it never would be involved in human rights abuses after the US government said there was a danger some of its units might contribute to Chinese surveillance.

Three BGI units were among Chinese companies added to an “entity list” last week that limits access to US technology on security or human rights grounds. The Commerce Department cited a risk BGI technology might contribute to surveillance. Activists say Beijing is trying to create a database of genetic information from Muslims and other Chinese minorities.

The Chinese government accused Washington on Friday of improperly attacking China’s companies.

BGI, headquartered in the southern city of Shenzhen, said its services are only for civilian and scientific purposes.

The US decision “may have been impacted by misinformation and we are willing and able to clarify,” BGI Group said in an emailed response to questions. It did not mention Uygurs or other Muslim minorities but previously has denied it provided technology to surveil them.

“BGI Group does not condone and would never be involved in any human-rights abuses,” the company said.

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