China’s response to criticisms of horrifying human rights violations in Xinjiang is clear and calculated. First, the sanctions imposed upon individuals and institutions in the EU and UK are direct retaliation for those imposed upon China over its treatment of Uighurs. Second, they seek more broadly to deter any criticism over Xinjiang, where Beijing denies any rights violations. Beijing sees human rights concerns as a pretext for defending western hegemony, pointing to historic and current abuses committed by its critics. But the prime minister and foreign secretary have, rightly, made their support for sanctioned individuals and their concerns about gross human rights violations in Xinjiang clear.

Source: The Guardian March 26, 2021 18:51 UTC