Bipartisan resolution condemns
treatment of religious and ethnic groups, seeks to build international
investigation into human rights abuses and crimes in Xinjiang
WASHINGTON –
Today, U.S. Senators
Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mitt Romney
(R-Utah) introduced a resolution
condemning the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for its
treatment of the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and calling
for an international investigation into the abuses and crimes committed there.
“We must speak in one voice against China’s campaign to deprive its Uyghur and other Central Asian and religious minorities of their fundamental rights,” said Senator Markey, Chair of the East Asia Subcommittee. “While President Trump’s pursuit of a trade deal with China reportedly took precedent over his concern for atrocities committed by Beijing, I know that the Biden administration will use every economic and diplomatic tool at its disposal to hold perpetrators to account for their crimes – and rally the world to take similar action. Beijing’s attempts to erase the identity of an entire group, in the 21st Century, will not succeed.”
“Whether on
behalf of individuals like Ekpar Asat – a Uyghur journalist and entrepreneur
who has been unjustly detained since 2016 – or entire groups who are victims of
forced labor or monitored by mass surveillance systems, we must speak out
against the abuses taking place in Xinjiang,” said Senator Coons. “We’re
calling on the United States and our allies and partners to ensure a credible
investigation into crimes committed by the PRC government in Xinjiang. We
should cooperate with the PRC when possible, but we cannot turn a blind eye to
the government’s blatant disregard for the human rights of its own
citizens.”
“I’m proud to
join Senator Coons in introducing this bipartisan resolution condemning the
egregious human rights violations, including genocide and crimes against
humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang,” said
Senator Rubio. “The Trump administration was right to issue a genocide
determination and the time is now for the Biden administration to take
meaningful action and lead our allies and partners to put an end to these
abusers and bring forth accountability and justice for the perpetrators.”
“The Chinese
Communist Party continues to pursue repressive and cruel dictatorial rule
against people in China, including engaging in genocide and crimes against
humanity with respect to Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in
Xinjiang,” said Senator Hagerty. “I’m proud to join my colleagues to
introduce this bipartisan resolution strongly condemning the CCP-controlled
Chinese government for these barbaric actions and demanding an investigation.”
“For years, the
Chinese government has waged a horrific campaign to forcibly assimilate Uyghur
Muslims and eliminate their cultural and religious practices,” said Senator
Kaine. “Congress must continue to call out the ongoing abuses in Xinjiang
and pressure China about its devastating treatment of other religious and
ethnic minorities as well.”
“The Chinese
Communist Party is exacting genocide against the Uyghurs and other ethnic
minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” said Senator Romney,
Ranking Member of the East Asia Subcommittee. “With this resolution, we
condemn the CCP’s treatment of the Uyghur people and call for an investigation
into the crimes and abuses committed against them.”
“This resolution
lends critical support to a simple proposition: that no government, including
one as powerful as China’s, should expect impunity when it commits serious
human rights violations,” said Sophie Richardson, China Director at
Human Rights Watch.
Full text of
the resolution is available here.
