China denounces US ‘economic bullying,’ rejects ‘genocide’ allegations

China has expressed “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to a US ban on imports from the Xinjiang region, and accused the administration of President Joe Biden of “economic bullying,” against the country.

Biden on Thursday approved a congressional measure that imposes sanctions on China for alleged human rights abuses against people in the Xinjiang region.

The legislation, called the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, was passed by the Senate by unanimous consent last week, banning imports from the Xinjiang region unless businesses can prove they were produced without forced labor, targeting the alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the area.

China’s Ministry of Commerce on Friday described the US action as “economic bullying,” and rejected allegations of "genocide" in the Xinjiang region as vicious lies, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The US measure “maliciously denigrates the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang in disregard of facts and truth,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

“It seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations and grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs,” Zhao said. “China deplores and firmly rejects this.”

Earlier, Beijing has said that the United States has “no scruples about smearing China by every means.”

“The relevant actions seriously undermine the principles of market economy and international economic and trade rules, and seriously damage the interests of Chinese institutions and enterprises,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

“China strongly deplores and rejects that and urges the US to immediately correct its mistake. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and enterprises,” Wang added.

The US measure bans imports of goods from China’s Xinjiang region unless individuals or companies demonstrate that the materials were made without forced labor.

The White House thanked the legislation’s co-sponsors, Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Senator Rubio called the legislation “the most important and impactful action taken thus far by the United States to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their use of slave labor.”

“It will fundamentally change our relationship with Beijing,” Rubio said. “This law should also ensure that Americans no longer unknowingly buy goods made by slaves in China. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration and my colleagues to ensure the new law is implemented correctly and enforced properly.”

Biden signs bill punishing China for alleged human rights abuses

US President Joe Biden has approved a congressional measure that imposes sanctions on China for alleged human rights abuses against people in the Xinjiang region.

The United States has accused China of committing genocide against millions of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, whereas Beijing has said that the United States has “no scruples about smearing China by every means.”

Activists and UN rights experts claim at least one million Muslims have been forced into camps in Xinjiang. Beijing, however, denies reports that Uyghurs are unfairly marginalized, saying it is addressing underdevelopment and lack of jobs in the heavily Uyghur populated areas such as Xinjiang.

Chinese officials have characterized the camps as “vocational education and employment training centers” for “criminals involved in minor offenses.”

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