The following is a list of actions taken by the U.S. government in response to gross human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim groups [Updated December 2021].
Summary:
– 106 punitive sanctions (57 Chinese companies; 33 Chinese officials and government agencies. Some are subject to two or more sanctions.)
– 5 laws, policy statements, and advisories
– 11 investment bans
– The Xinjiang Construction and Production Corps (XPCC) is under four separate sanctions
– Global Magnitsky human rights sanctions
– Import bans based on human rights violations
– Export bans based on human rights violations
– An Executive Order sanctioning companies responsible for human rights abuses
– Visa ban on officials responsible for, or complicit in, human rights violations
– Investment bans for Chinese companies responsible for, or complicit in, human rights violations
– Atrocity Crimes Statement by Secretary Blinken: the PRC continues to Commit Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
– Atrocity Crimes Determination: Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
– Surveillance technology export license policy revision
– Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
– Department of Labor Product List
Global Magnitsky sanctions
Entity | Date Sanctioned | |
1 | Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) | 7/31/20 |
2 | Xinjiang Public Security Bureau (XPSB) | 7/9/20 |
Individual | Position | Sanctioned | |
1 | Shohrat Zakir | Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (2018–2021) | 12/10/21 |
2 | Erken Tuniyaz | Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (2021–) | 12/10/21 |
3 | Wang Junzheng | Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) | 3/22/21 |
4 | Chen Mingguo | Director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau (XPSB) | 3/22/21 |
5 | Peng Jiarui | Deputy Party Secretary and Commander of the XPCC | 7/31/20 |
6 | Sun Jinlong | Former Political Commissar of the XPCC | 7/31/20 |
7 | Chen Quanguo | Communist Party Secretary of XUAR [Politburo Member] | 7/9/20 |
8 | Zhu Hailun | Former Deputy Party Secretary of the XUAR | 7/9/20 |
9 | Wang Mingshan | Director and Communist Party Secretary of the XPSB | 7/9/20 |
10 | Huo Liujun | Former Party Secretary of the XPSB | 7/9/20 |
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Import bans
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security
Federal statute 19 U.S.C. 1307 prohibits the importation of merchandise mined, manufactured, or produced, wholly or in part, by forced labor, including convict labor, forced child labor, and indentured labor.
Entity | Date Sanctioned | Date Announced | |
1 | Withhold Release Order (WRO) on Silica-Based Products produced by Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. Ltd. in Xinjiang. The WRO applies to silica-based products made by Hoshine and its subsidiaries as well as to materials and goods (such as polysilicon) derived from or produced using those silica-based products. Silica is a raw material that is used to make components for solar panels, electronics, and other goods. | 6/24/21 | 6/24/21 |
2 | Region-wide ban on all cotton and tomato products produced in Xinjiang, based on information that reasonably indicates the use of detainee or prison labor and situations of forced labor. The agency identified the following forced labor indicators through the course of its investigation: debt bondage, restriction of movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive living and working conditions. | 1/13/2021 | 1/13/2021 |
3 | Shipments containing cotton and cotton products originating from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor, including convict labor. The WRO applies to all cotton and cotton products produced by the XPCC and its subordinate and affiliated entities as well as any products that are made in whole or in part with or derived from that cotton, such as apparel, garments, and textiles. | 11/3/2020 | 12/2/2020 |
4 | All products made with labor from the Lop County No. 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Information reasonably indicates that this “re-education” internment camp, which is often called a Vocational Skills Education and Training Center, is providing prison labor to nearby manufacturing entities in Xinjiang. CBP identified forced labor indicators including highly coercive/unfree recruitment, work and life under duress, and restriction of movement. | 8/25/2020 | 9/14/2020 |
5 | Hair products made in the Lop County Hair Product Industrial Park in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Information reasonably indicates this site is manufacturing products with forced labor of the Uyghur people and other minority ethnic groups who are detained in “re-education” internment camps in Xinjiang. CBP identified forced labor indicators including highly coercive/unfree recruitment, work and life under duress, and restriction of movement. | 8/25/2020 | 9/14/2020 |
6 | Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Information reasonably indicates that these entities use prison and forced labor in apparel production. CBP identified forced labor indicators including the restriction of movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working and living conditions. | 9/3/2020 | 9/14/2020 |
7 | Baoding LYSZD Trade and Business Co., Ltd in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Information reasonably indicates that these entities use prison and forced labor in apparel production. CBP identified forced labor indicators including the restriction of movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working and living conditions. | 9/3/2020 | 9/14/2020 |
8 | Cotton produced and processed by Xinjiang Junggar Cotton and Linen Co., Ltd. in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Information reasonably indicates that this entity and its subsidiaries use prison labor in their raw cotton processing operations in Xinjiang. Cotton-processing factories and cotton farms in this region are prison enterprises that use convict labor. | 9/8/2020 | 9/14/2020 |
9 | Computer parts made by Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co., Ltd. in Anhui, China. Information reasonably indicates that Hefei Bitland uses both prison and forced labor to produce electronics. CBP identified forced labor indicators including abuse of vulnerability, restriction of movement, isolation, and intimidation and threats. | 9/8/2020 | 9/14/2020 |
10 | Lop County Meixin Hair Products Co., Ltd | 6/17/2020 | 6/17/2020 |
11 | Hetian Haolin Hair Accessories Co., Ltd. | 5/1/2020 | 5/1/2020 |
12 | Hetian Taida Apparel Co., Ltd. | 9/30/2019 | 9/30/2019 |
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Export bans
Commerce Department
Pursuant to § 744.11(b) of the EAR, the End-User Review Committee (ERC), composed of representatives of the Departments of Commerce (Chair), State, Defense, Energy and, where appropriate, the Treasury, determined that these entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China’s campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in the XUAR.
Companies | Date Sanctioned | |
1 | China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology | 7/12/21 |
2 | Xinjiang Lianhai Chuangzhi Information Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
3 | Leon Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
4 | Xinjiang Tangli Technology Co., Ltd | 7/12/21 |
5 | Shenzhen Cobber Information Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
6 | Xinjiang Sailing Information Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
7 | Beijing Geling Shentong Information Technology Co., Ltd | 7/12/21 |
8 | Tongfang R.I.A. Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
9 | Shenzhen Hua’antai Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
10 | Chengdu Xiwu Security System Alliance Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
11 | Beijing Sinonet Science & Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
12 | Urumqi Tianyao Weiye Information Technology Service Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
13 | Suzhou Keda Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
14 | Xinjiang Beidou Tongchuang Information Technology Co., Ltd. | 7/12/21 |
15 | Hoshine Silicon Industry (Shanshan) | 6/24/21 |
16 | Xinjiang Daqo New Energy | 6/24/21 |
17 | Xinjiang East Hope Nonferrous Metals | 6/24/21 |
18 | Xinjiang GCL New Energy Material Technology | 6/24/21 |
19 | Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) | 6/24/21 |
20 | AGCU Scientech* | 12/18/20 |
21 | China National Scientific Instruments and Materials (CNSIM)* | 12/18/20 |
22 | DJI* | 12/18/20 |
23 | Kuang-Chi Group* | 12/18/20 |
24 | Beijing Liuhe BGI | 7/22/20 |
25 | Changji Esquel Textile Co. Ltd. | 6/5/20 |
26 | Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. Ltd. | 6/5/20 |
27 | Hefei Meiling Co. Ltd. | 6/5/20 |
28 | Hetian Haolin Hair Accessories Co. Ltd. | 6/5/20 |
29 | Hetian Taida Apparel Co., Ltd. | 6/5/20 |
30 | KTK Group | 6/5/20 |
31 | Nanchang O-Film Tech | 6/5/20 |
32 | Nanjing Synergy Textiles Co. Ltd. | 6/5/20 |
33 | Tanyuan Technology Co. Ltd. | 6/5/20 |
34 | Xinjiang Silk Road BGI | 6/5/20 |
35 | Aksu Huafu Textiles Co. | 6/5/20 |
36 | CloudWalk Technology | 6/5/20 |
37 | FiberHome Technologies Group | 6/5/20 |
38 | Intellifusion | 6/5/20 |
39 | IS’Vision | 6/5/20 |
40 | Nanjing FiberHome Starrysky Communication Development Co. | 6/5/20 |
41 | NetPosa | 6/5/20 |
42 | SenseNets | 6/5/20 |
43 | Dahua Technology | 10/9/19 |
44 | Hikvision | 10/9/19 |
45 | IFLYTEK | 10/9/19 |
46 | Megvii Technology | 10/9/19 |
47 | Beijing Sensetime Technology Development Co. Ltd.** | 10/9/19 |
48 | Xiamen Meiya Pico Information Co. Ltd. | 10/9/19 |
49 | Yitu Technologies | 10/9/19 |
50 | Yixin Science and Technology Co. Ltd. | 10/9/19 |
*The ERC determined to add the entities AGCU Scientech; China National Scientific Instruments and Materials (CNSIM); DJI; and Kuang-Chi Group for activities contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. Specifically, these four entities have enabled wide-scale human rights abuses within China through abusive genetic collection and analysis or high-technology surveillance, and/or facilitated the export of items by China that aid repressive regimes around the world, contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests.
**The Commerce Department revised the listing on June 5, 2020 by removing “SenseTime” and adding “Beijing Sensetime Technology Development Co.,” its sister-company. See here for additional reporting: https://www.axios.com/chinese-tech-firm-sidesteps-sanctions-de43feaf-7df5-46ad-85bd-8a37ab468e2e.html
Government Entities (21) | Date Sanctioned | |
1 | Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science of China | 6/5/20 |
2 | People’s Government Public Security Bureau of XUAR | 10/9/19 |
3 | Aksu District Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
4 | Altay Municipality Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
5 | Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
6 | Boertala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
7 | Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
8 | Hami Municipality Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
9 | Hetian Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
10 | Kashgar Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
11 | Kelamayi Municipality Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
12 | Kezilesu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
13 | Shihezi Municipality Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
14 | Tacheng Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
15 | Tumushuke Municipal Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
16 | Turfan Municipality Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
17 | Urumqi Municipal Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
18 | Wujiaqu Municipality Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
19 | Xinjiang Police College | 10/9/19 |
20 | Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
21 | Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Public Security Bureau | 10/9/19 |
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Investment Bans
Entity | Date Announced |
Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd. (E.O. 14032) | June 3, 2021 |
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (E.O. 14032) | June 3, 2021 |
SenseTime Group Limited (SenseTime) | 12/10/2021 |
Cloudwalk Technology Co., Ltd. | 12/16/2021 |
Dawning Information Industry Co., Ltd | 12/16/2021 |
Leon Technology Company Limited | 12/16/2021 |
Megvii Technology Limited | 12/16/2021 |
Netposa Technologies Limited | 12/16/2021 |
Xiamen Meiya Pico Information Co., Ltd. | 12/16/2021 |
SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. | 12/16/2021 |
Yitu Limited | 12/16/2021 |
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Visa ban
State Department
Visa ban | Date Announced |
The State Department announced visa restrictions on Chinese government and Communist Party officials who are believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, the detention or abuse of Uighurs, Kazakhs, or other members of Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, China. Family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions. | 10/8/2019 |
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Atrocity Crimes Determination
State Department
Promoting Accountability for Human Rights Abuse with Our Partners | Date Announced |
Statement by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken: “Amid growing international condemnation, the PRC continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. The United States reiterates its calls on the PRC to bring an end to the repression of Uyghurs, who are predominantly Muslim, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, including by releasing all those arbitrarily held in internment camps and detention facilities.” | 3/22/2021 |
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Atrocity Crimes Determination: Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
State Department
Atrocity Crimes Determination: Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity | Date Announced |
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced his determination that since at least March 2017, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. These crimes are ongoing and include: the arbitrary imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty of more than one million civilians, forced sterilization, torture of a large number of those arbitrarily detained, forced labor, and the imposition of draconian restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement. The Nuremberg Tribunals at the end of World War II prosecuted perpetrators for crimes against humanity, the same crimes being perpetrated in Xinjiang. In addition, after careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. This genocide is ongoing, and is the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state. | 1/19/2021 |
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Export license policy revised to include human rights in all decisions, including private-sector end-users
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Commerce Department
Revision of Export Administration Regulations (EAR): Export licensing decisions are now based in part on the risk that controlled items may be used by any end-users, including private companies, to commit or enable human rights abuses. | Date Announced |
In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the EAR by revising the licensing policy of paragraph (b) of § 742.7 to clarify to the exporting community that Commerce Control List (CCL) licensing decisions are based in part upon U.S. Government assessments about whether controlled items may be used to engage in or enable violations or abuses of human rights, including those involving censorship, surveillance, detention, or excessive use of force.
This revision furthers the foreign policy interests of the United States pertaining to the prevention of human rights violations and abuses by helping to ensure that items are not exported or reexported in support of human rights violations or abuses, including telecommunications and information security and sensors. This licensing policy enables BIS and other reviewing agencies to consider violations or abuses of human rights by individuals or entities other than the government of the importing country, such as companies. Additional notes: (1) In removing the “internationally recognized” standard from “human rights” in § 742.7(b), BIS can make decisions based on US Government determinations. (2) BIS needs only judge that there is a “risk” that the items would be used in such a manner. |
6/10/2020 |
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Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisories
Departments of State, Commerce, Treasury and Homeland Security
Business Advisories | Date Announced |
Updated Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory: The Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security, Labor, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued an updated Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory “to highlight the heightened risks for businesses with supply chain and investment links to Xinjiang, given the entities complicit in forced labor and other human rights abuses there and throughout China.” | 7/13/21 |
Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory: The Departments of State, Commerce, Treasury and Homeland Security jointly issued a business advisory. “China continues to commit brutal human rights abuses against ethnic minorities from Xinjiang, including operating dystopian surveillance systems and employing the contemptible practice of forced labor,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This business advisory highlights the risks U.S. companies, individuals, and other organizations face when dealing with entities involved in these human rights abuses.” | 7/1/2020 |
Sources |
https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/ https://www.dhs.gov/publication/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory |
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Additions to List of Goods Produced by Child Labor of Forced Labor (TVPRA List)
Department of Labor
List of Goods | Date Announced |
In a statement titled “Against Their Will: The Situation in Xinjiang,” the Department of Labor added five goods produced by forced labor by Muslim ethnic groups in China to the 2020 edition of the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor of Forced Labor (TVPRA List). These goods include gloves, hair products, textiles, thread/yarn, and tomato products. The statement noted the vast scale of abuse, saying it serves as a notice for the world to ask questions, take action, and demand change. | Sept. 2020 |