A New York Times visual investigation has found that some of those companies are using Uighur labor through a contentious government-sponsored program that experts say often puts people to work against their will. According to China’s National Medical Products Administration, only four companies in Xinjiang produced medical grade protective equipment before the pandemic. After reviewing state media reports and public records, The Times found that at least 17 of those companies participate in the labor transfer program. The companies produce equipment primarily for domestic use, but The Times identified several other companies outside Xinjiang that use Uighur labor and export globally. The program is widely publicized in state media as a form of poverty reduction.

Source: International New York Times July 19, 2020 19:52 UTC