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US blacklists China organisations over Xinjiang 'Uighur abuse' | US blacklists China organisations over Xinjiang 'Uighur abuse' |
(about 4 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. |
The organisations are now on the so-called Entity List, which bars them from buying products from US companies without approval from Washington. | The organisations are now on the so-called Entity List, which bars them from buying products from US companies without approval from Washington. |
The 28 targets include both government agencies and technology companies specialising in surveillance equipment. | The 28 targets include both government agencies and technology companies specialising in surveillance equipment. |
It is not the first time the US has put Chinese groups under a trade ban. | It is not the first time the US has put 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. | In May, the Trump administration added telecommunications giant Huawei to the Entity List because of security fears over its products. |
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. China calls these "vocational training centres" to combat extremism. | Rights groups say Beijing is severely persecuting the mostly Muslim Uighurs in detention camps. China calls these "vocational training centres" to combat extremism. |
Who has the US targeted? | Who has the US targeted? |
The Commerce Department said in its decision on Monday that 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 Commerce Department said in its decision on Monday that 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." |
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, 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 is one of the largest surveillance equipment manufacturers in the world. |
The US and China are currently in the midst of a trade war, and have sent delegations to Washington for a meeting about the tensions later this week. | The US and China are currently in the midst of a trade war, and have sent delegations to Washington for a meeting about the tensions later this week. |
Targeting China's AI stars | Targeting China's AI stars |
By Karishma Vaswani, BBC Asia Business correspondent | By Karishma Vaswani, BBC Asia Business correspondent |
This move by the US will no doubt hurt China's technology ambitions, at least in the short term. | This move by the US will no doubt hurt China's technology ambitions, at least in the short term. |
The companies targeted are some of China's biggest tech stars in artificial intelligence - the industry China is staking its future on. | The companies targeted are some of China's biggest tech stars in artificial intelligence - the industry China is staking its future on. |
But the processor chips used to train AI algorithms are currently dominated by American firms like Intel and Nvidia. | |
Increasingly, though, US moves to restrict the American tech available to Chinese companies is prompting China Inc to accelerate its desire for self-sufficiency. | Increasingly, though, US moves to restrict the American tech available to Chinese companies is prompting China Inc to accelerate its desire for self-sufficiency. |
For instance, after Huawei was placed on the US entity list earlier this year - which meant that companies like Google would need to get an export license from Washington before selling to it - the Chinese company said it would start developing its own operating software to embed on its phones. | For instance, after Huawei was placed on the US entity list earlier this year - which meant that companies like Google would need to get an export license from Washington before selling to it - the Chinese company said it would start developing its own operating software to embed on its phones. |
Chinese alternatives to other US technology are also being developed. | Chinese alternatives to other US technology are also being developed. |
As the US and China's trade war turns increasingly into a battle over technology, consumers will eventually have to choose between all-Chinese and all-American products. | As the US and China's trade war turns increasingly into a battle over technology, consumers will eventually have to choose between all-Chinese and all-American products. |
What is the situation in Xinjiang? | What is the situation in Xinjiang? |
China has launched a massive security operation in Xinjiang, in its far west, in recent years. | China has launched a massive security operation in Xinjiang, in its far west, in recent years. |
Human rights groups and the UN say China has rounded up and detained more than a million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in vast detention camps, where they are forced to renounce Islam, speak only in Mandarin Chinese and learn obedience to the communist government. | Human rights groups and the UN say China has rounded up and detained more than a million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in vast detention camps, where they are forced to renounce Islam, speak only in Mandarin Chinese and learn obedience to the communist government. |
China says those people are attending "vocational training centres" which are giving them jobs and helping them integrate into Chinese society, in the name of preventing terrorism. | China says those people are attending "vocational training centres" which are giving them jobs and helping them integrate into Chinese society, in the name of preventing terrorism. |
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? | Who are the Uighurs? |
Uighurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims. They make up about 45% of the Xinjiang region's population; 40% are Han Chinese. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Xinjiang is officially designated an autonomous region within China, like Tibet to its south. |