US imposes sanctions on Chinese company for abuse of Uyghur rights

(Patria) – The United States has increased economic pressure on the Chinese province of Xinjiang by imposing sanctions on a powerful Chinese company and two board members for the abuse of human rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.

The US Treasury's 'blacklist' includes the company 'Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps', known as XPCC, as well as its former secretary Sun Jinlong, and his deputy Peng Jiarui, due to accusations of being linked to serious human rights violations against ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang province.

- The human rights abuses in Xinjiang by the Chinese Communist Party against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are a stain of the century, stated US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

China denies allegations of mistreating minorities, claiming that vocational training is conducted in the camps and that they are necessary in the fight against extremism.

A senior administration official, who wished to remain anonymous, described the company as a 'secret, paramilitary organization that performs many various functions under the direct control' of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

- They are directly involved in the implementation of the CCP's comprehensive surveillance, detention, and indoctrination, which we know target Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, claims this official.

Washington also recently imposed sanctions on the Communist Party Secretary for the Xinjiang region, Chen Quanguo, who is so far the highest-ranking Chinese official to be placed on a list that also includes some other members of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau.

XPCC is a quasi-military group formed in 1954 by demobilized soldiers who underwent military training while simultaneously developing farms in the region.

Civilian members from eastern China later joined the organization, which now numbers 3.11 million people, which is more than 12% of the region's population.