U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo.
On January 19, one day before the change of administration, Secretary of State Pompeo issued a formal statement that the Chinese government’s policy of imprisoning millions of Muslims in Xinjiang and imposing forced labor and ethnic cleansing is an act of “genocide” and a “crime against humanity.
In the statement, Pompeo emphasized that after a careful examination of the relevant facts, he concluded that the Chinese government, under the direct leadership and control of the Communist Party of China, has carried out genocidal policies against Muslim Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region since at least March 2017. He noted that these policies are still in effect.
Pompeo’s claim makes the United States the first country to make a similar statement. According to U.S. media outlet Axios, top U.S. officials believe that other countries are likely to make such statements in succession.
Reuters noted in its report that Pompeo’s move would further strain relations between the U.S. and China. Some U.S. officials revealed that the move has been a long time in the making, after multiple analyses and coordination within the administration.
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