US Imposes Trade Sanctions on Chinese Companies as Muslim Abuse Complaints Heat Up

BEIJING, KOMPAS.com — The US government imposed trade sanctions on 11 Chinese companies that have been implicated in human rights abuses in China’s Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang.

In response, the Chinese government has retaliated saying that it would take unspecified “necessary measures” against the US government.

The latest US trade sanction has added even more pressure on Beijing over Xinjiang.

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The ruling Communist Party is accused of mass detentions, forced labor, and other abuses against Muslim minorities.

Accusations of human rights abuse are one of the many stints that have caused tension in the US-China relationship.

Other conflicts in trade and technology have further soured bilateral relations causing a plunge to their lowest levels in decades.

The Trump administration also has imposed sanctions on four Chinese officials over the accusations.

Beijing responded by announcing unspecified penalties on four US senators who are critics of its human rights record.

The Department of Commerce said Monday the addition of the 11 companies to its Entity List will limit their access to US goods and technology. It gave no details of what goods might be affected.

“This action will ensure that our goods and technologies are not used in the Chinese Communist Party’s despicable offensive against defenseless Muslim minority populations,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in a statement.

The Chinese foreign ministry rejected the sanctions as interference in its affairs and an attempt by Washington to hurt Chinese companies.

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“What the United States is concerned about is not the human rights issues at all, but to suppress Chinese companies, undermine the stability of Xinjiang, and smear China’s Xinjiang policies,” said spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

“We urge the United States to correct its mistakes, revoke relevant decisions and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs," said Wang Wenbin.