Under new US bill, China could face punishment over Xinjiang Uygur camps
- Bipartisan legislation urges the Trump administration to take a stronger line against the Chinese crackdown on minority Muslims
- ‘Chinese government officials should be held accountable for their complicity in this evil,’ one of the bill’s sponsors said
Citing “pervasive human rights abuses across Xinjiang”, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday urging US President Donald Trump to take a stronger stance in condemning China’s treatment of Muslim minorities in its far western region.
The legislation, which mentions the possibility of sanctions, was put forth by lawmakers including Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, and Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey. Representatives Chris Smith of New Jersey, a Republican, and Tom Suozzi of New York, a Democrat, were among those introducing the bill in the House.
The legislation would require the US State Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal agencies to produce reports for Congress related to security risks, protection of US citizens from intimidation, Chinese disinformation efforts and the scope of abuses.
It also urges the agencies to report on Chinese companies involved in the camps and asks the FBI to take action against any Chinese government efforts to intimidate Uygurs living in the US.