The U.S. Congress has condemned China for genocide against those living in the Muslim-majority Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and other minorities.
A report out Thursday from the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China accuses China's Communist government of "crimes against humanity - and possibly genocide." It also criticizes China for harassing and harming Uyghurs living in the U.S.
"Disturbing new evidence has also emerged of a systematic and widespread policy of forced sterilization and birth suppression of the Uyghur and other minority populations," according to the report.
Elementary and middle-school-age children in Xinjiang were involuntarily separated from their families, the report alleges.
Trends "suggest that the Chinese government is intentionally working to destroy Uyghur and other minority families, culture and religious adherence - all of which should be considered when determining whether the Chinese government is responsible for perpetrating atrocity crimes-including genocide-against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic and predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in China."
The United Nations confirms some 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslims are imprisoned at "educational and vocational institutes" and prison camps throughout Xinjiang.
A genocide declaration by the U.S. might affect Xinjiang's economy - it produces 20% of the world's supply of cotton.
The U.S. has already levied economic sanctions against China for its oppression of Uyghurs. On Wednesday, it banned the importation of all cotton and tomatoes produced in Xinjiang as a result of China's alleged use of forced labor.
The ban was announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Some $9 billion worth of cotton products and $10 million worth of tomato products were imported into the U.S. from Xinjiang in 2020.
Fashion brands such as Nike, Adidas and Gap have come under fire from human rights groups for using cotton sourced from China.
Commission joint chairperson Rep. Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, called China's actions to destroy human rights in Xinjiang "shocking and unprecedented." He encouraged Congress and the incoming Biden administration to hold China accountable for its crimes against the country's minorities.
"The United States must continue to stand with the people of China in their struggle and lead the world in a united and coordinated response to the human rights abuses of the Chinese government," he said.
The commission report recommends a formal U.S. "determination on whether atrocities are being committed" in Xinjiang. A determination is required within 90 days of U.S. legislation passed Dec. 27.
The commission is an independent agency of the U.S. government that monitors human rights and rule of law developments in China.
