WUC
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) alerted the Central Asian Governments’ responsibility to speak up, ahead of the China-Central Asia Summit, taking place on May 18-19 in Xi’an, China. The Summit is hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping with his counterparts, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, Emomali Rahmonov of Tajikistan, Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan and Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan.
WUC strongly condemned the prioritisation of economic and trade relations as it continues to serve China’s interest of expansionism and consolidate its influence through the region by curtailing the ongoing Uyghur Genocide that is aggressively carried against the ethnic, cultural and religious kinships of Uyghurs living their next doors.
The WUC issued a press release expressing deep concern regarding the strengthening ties between China and Central Asian countries ahead of an upcoming summit. The WUC highlights the potential ramifications of these growing relationships on the Uyghur community and calls for increased attention and action to address the ongoing human rights abuses in the region.
In the press release posted on their official website, the WUC voiced apprehension over the deepening political, economic, and security cooperation between China and several Central Asian nations. It pointed out that these partnerships, although touted as beneficial for all parties involved, raise serious concerns about the potential for increased cooperation in the surveillance and suppression of the Uyghur population.
The WUC emphasized that the Uyghur people, an ethnic minority primarily residing in China's Xinjiang region, have already been subjected to widespread human rights violations, including mass detentions, forced labor, cultural suppression, and religious persecution. The deepening ties between China and Central Asia, according to the WUC, could exacerbate these abuses and further isolate the Uyghur community.
The press release highlighted the urgent need for international actors to pay attention to the plight of the Uyghurs and take decisive action to hold China accountable for its human rights violations. The WUC urged governments, international organizations, and civil society to raise their voices and exert pressure on China to end the atrocities being committed against the Uyghur people.
Furthermore, the WUC called on Central Asian countries to carefully consider the potential consequences of their growing cooperation with China. It encourages these nations to prioritize human rights and ensure that their partnerships do not contribute to the perpetuation of systemic abuses against the Uyghur population.
It stressed the importance of international solidarity in addressing the Uyghur crisis. The WUC called for concerted efforts to raise awareness, support Uyghur refugees, and advocate for accountability, justice, and the protection of human rights in the region.
As the China-Central Asia summit begins, the WUC's press release serves as a reminder of the dire situation faced by the Uyghur community and the potential implications of deepening ties between China and Central Asian countries. It highlights the urgent need for action to address the human rights abuses and calls on the international community to prioritize the protection of the Uyghur people's rights and dignity.
The WUC's concerns shed light on the interconnectedness of geopolitical relationships and human rights issues, emphasizing the importance of holding all parties accountable for their actions and ensuring that human rights are at the forefront of diplomatic engagements.
Edited and collated by Team TRC