Jonathan Ponciano,
Secretary of State Antony Blinken staunchly rebuked China on Sunday for acts of genocide against Muslim Uyghurs in its Xinjiang region, saying the United States stands “resolutely against” the nation’s “egregious” human rights violations and urging U.S. companies to ensure they’re not conducting business in the region as a slew of companies faces backlash for alleged ties to its forced labour.
Speaking to NBC News’ Meet the Press, Blinken doubled-down on comments during his January confirmation hearing in which he called the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang “an effort to commit genocide,” calling it “exactly the right description.”
Blinken also called on governments around the world, including the United States, to take “concrete actions” to ensure that no companies are providing China with products or services that facilitate its repression of the Uyghur population.
“We need to be looking at products that are made in that part of China to make sure that they’re not coming here,” Blinken said, alluding to (but not specifically referencing) the slew of apparel companies that have faced backlash for allegedly sourcing materials like cotton from Xinjiang.
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