U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accused Beijing of continuing to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province, according to a report published on Monday. The State Department’s annual human rights report highlighted the ongoing abuses in China, including the detention of over one million people in camps and prisons, as well as the use of re-education camps in Xinjiang.
Despite China’s denial of these abuses, Blinken has been vocal about the situation in Xinjiang, endorsing the determination that China’s actions amount to genocide. The report reiterated this stance and emphasized the need to address human rights violations in the region.
The publication of the report comes ahead of Blinken’s planned visit to China this week, where he is expected to engage in delicate talks on various issues, including the war in Ukraine and global trade. Human rights will be among the topics raised by Blinken during his meetings with Chinese officials.
The situation in Xinjiang has been a point of contention between the U.S. and China, with the former consistently condemning the abuses while the latter defends its actions as necessary measures to combat terrorism and extremism.
As Blinken prepares for his visit to China, the spotlight remains on the human rights situation in Xinjiang, underscoring the importance of addressing these abuses on the international stage.