London bans Beijing’s “savagery” against Uyghurs

Reporter in London

Unlike other European leaders, Boris Johnson was not afraid to anger Beijing. Condemning Chinese repression of Uyghurs, London on Tuesday unveiled measures to ban items related to the forced labor of these Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, the great northwest of China.

In making this announcement, the British Foreign Secretary did not downplay the words. That’s one “The barbarism we believed would be pushed into the past in practice today”, Dominic Robb announced in front of delegates “Arbitrary detention, political re-education, forced labor, torture and forced contraception” உய்குர்கள். All training “On an industrial scale”. Faced these “Unacceptable Human Rights Violations”, Was the United Kingdom “Moral duty” To react, the Minister continued.

“Call to action” from 300 voluntary charities

Many international experts estimate that at least one million Uyghurs are being held in detention and political re-education camps. Beijing denies and responds that these are vocational training centers aimed at deterring residents of the region from the temptations of Islam, separatism and terrorism. Dominic Robb called on China to allow an independent investigation.

The measures adopted by London are aimed at banning imports and exports linked to forced labor by Uyghurs. On the one hand, making sure of it “British companies do not participate in supply chains leading to detention camps’ websites in Xinjiang”. On the other hand, it is “Products resulting from human rights violations do not end up on supermarket shelves” British.

Companies will be fined if they fail to prove that their products are not linked to forced labor in Xinjiang. This vast region of northwest China is the world’s leading supplier of cotton. Last week, the department store chain Marks & Spencer promised that clothing would not be made from cotton from Xinjiang. It became the first British company Call to action For the Uyghurs who started about 300 voluntary charities.

The difference between London and the EU

Doubting the impact of these measures, Conservative MPs want the government to go further by introducing sanctions. Type Magnitsky type Against the Chinese authorities. The ban is aimed at those accused of human rights abuses and is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who died in prison after being arrested in 2008 for exposing the corruption of senior Russian officials. London have so far refused to go that far, but Dominic Robb has said he has the opportunity.

The announcement of these measures will further worsen relations between London and Beijing, in an already tense situation. China is outraged by the brutal acquisition of Hong Kong and the decision by Chinese company Hawaii to withdraw from the UK 5G network. Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun asked the UK on Tuesday “Stop interfering in China’s internal affairs”.

With the EU and China signing a controversial policy investment agreement, this tough and bold London position is seen as an expression of a new independent post-Brexit foreign policy. Dominic Robb said Britain has always wanted a positive and constructive relationship with China. “But does not sacrifice its values ​​or security”.