China’s Xinjiang vows to increase support for firms under US ‘forced labour’ sanctions

Legislative resolution says US sanctions are ‘baseless’, calls to create ‘positive social environment’ for growth of businesses targeted

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The US sanctions apply to a range of firms based in Xinjiang, including cotton companies. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 4:07pm, 3 Sep 2024Updated: 4:36pm, 3 Sep 2024

Legislators in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang say they will increase support for US-sanctioned enterprises, including via the legal system and overseas promotions.

In a resolution released and taking effect on Monday, the regional legislature denounced US sanctions against Xinjiang enterprises over the alleged use of forced labour, calling for the creation of “a positive social environment” for the growth of those businesses.

“The entire region must immediately take action to support the development of sanctioned enterprises and related industries,” the legislature said in the resolution, which was adopted on August 23.

“It is both a just stance and an unshirkable responsibility for all levels of national agencies, people’s organisations, enterprises and institutions, and all ethnic groups in the region to firmly oppose the US’ baseless sanctions against Xinjiang enterprises under the pretext of ‘forced labour’.”

The US Congress passed the Uygur Forced Labour Prevention Act in 2021 targeting imports from Xinjiang, to prevent the entry of goods made under such conditions.

The act took effect the following June, and has since seen sanctions imposed on dozens of Xinjiang companies and officials accused of being complicit in labour and human rights abuses there.