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US blacklists China organisations over Xinjiang 'Uighur abuse' | US blacklists China organisations over Xinjiang 'Uighur abuse' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US has blacklisted 28 Chinese organisations for their alleged involvement in abuses against ethnic Uighurs in China's Xinjiang province. | The US has blacklisted 28 Chinese organisations for their alleged involvement in abuses against ethnic Uighurs in China's Xinjiang province. |
All 28 organisations are now on the so-called Entity List, which bars them from buying products from US companies without approval from Washington. | All 28 organisations are now on the so-called Entity List, which bars them from buying products from US companies without approval from Washington. |
Those targeted include one of the world's largest makers of surveillance equipment. | Those targeted include one of the world's largest makers of surveillance equipment. |
China has not yet commented on the US decision. | China has not yet commented on the US decision. |
A Commerce Department filing said the organisations are "implicated in human rights violations and abuses". | A Commerce Department filing said the organisations are "implicated in human rights violations and abuses". |
Rights groups say Beijing is severely persecuting the mostly Muslim Uighurs in detention camps. | Rights groups say Beijing is severely persecuting the mostly Muslim Uighurs in detention camps. |
China calls these "vocational training centres" to combat extremism. | China calls these "vocational training centres" to combat extremism. |
What has the US done? | What has the US done? |
The Commerce Department announced its decision on Monday. | The Commerce Department announced its decision on Monday. |
These 28 entities are implicated in "China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups", the filing reads. | These 28 entities are implicated in "China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups", the filing reads. |
Xinjiang province's Public Security Bureau is on the list, along with 19 other smaller government agencies. | Xinjiang province's Public Security Bureau is on the list, along with 19 other smaller government agencies. |
Hikvision, Dahua Technology and Megvii Technology are among eight commercial groups on the list, all of which specialise in facial-recognition technology. Hikvision is one of the largest surveillance equipment manufacturers in the world. | Hikvision, Dahua Technology and Megvii Technology are among eight commercial groups on the list, all of which specialise in facial-recognition technology. Hikvision is one of the largest surveillance equipment manufacturers in the world. |
It is not the first time the US has placed Chinese groups under a trade ban. In May, the Trump administration added telecommunications giant Huawei to the Entity List because of security fears over its products. | It is not the first time the US has placed Chinese groups under a trade ban. In May, the Trump administration added telecommunications giant Huawei to the Entity List because of security fears over its products. |
Both countries are in the midst of a trade war, and have sent delegations to Washington for a meeting about the tensions later this week. | Both countries are in the midst of a trade war, and have sent delegations to Washington for a meeting about the tensions later this week. |
According to reports in September, the White House is mulling de-listing Chinese companies from US stock exchanges. | According to reports in September, the White House is mulling de-listing Chinese companies from US stock exchanges. |
What is the situation in Xinjiang? | What is the situation in Xinjiang? |
China says people in Xinjiang are attending "vocational training centres" designed to combat extremism. | China says people in Xinjiang are attending "vocational training centres" designed to combat extremism. |
But human rights groups and the UN say China is holding up to one million Uighurs and other Muslims in detention camps. | But human rights groups and the UN say China is holding up to one million Uighurs and other Muslims in detention camps. |
There have been increasingly vocal denunciations from the US and other countries about China's actions in Xinjiang. | There have been increasingly vocal denunciations from the US and other countries about China's actions in Xinjiang. |
Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged that China "demands its citizens worship government, not God" in a press conference in the Vatican. | Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged that China "demands its citizens worship government, not God" in a press conference in the Vatican. |
And in July more than 20 countries at the UN Human Rights Council signed a joint letter criticising China's treatment of the Uighurs and other Muslims. | And in July more than 20 countries at the UN Human Rights Council signed a joint letter criticising China's treatment of the Uighurs and other Muslims. |
Who are the Uighurs? | |
Uighurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims. They make up about 45% of the Xinjiang region's population; 40% are Han Chinese. | |
China re-established control in 1949 after crushing short-lived state of East Turkestan. | |
Since then, there has been large-scale immigration of Han Chinese and Uighurs fear erosion of their culture. | |
Xinjiang is officially designated an autonomous region within China, like Tibet to its south. |