October 29th, spokesperson Guo Jiaqun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a regular press conference.
Regarding the announcement by the US Department of Homeland Security to add three Chinese entities to the list of entities subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, Guo Jia-kun stated in his response to relevant questions that the US continues to fabricate lies regarding Xinjiang, using the so-called "forced labor" as a pretext to arbitrarily suppress Chinese enterprises. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this action.
Guo Jiaqun pointed out that the so-called ‘forced labor’ is merely a century-old lie fabricated by anti-China elements, with the aim of disrupting Xinjiang, slandering China, and hindering China’s development. The Chinese side urges the US to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights and to hinder China’s development. Necessary measures will be taken to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
Earlier that day, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce stated that the United States’ listing of Chinese companies on the so-called sanctions list related to Xinjiang had been noted. China does not practice forced labor, and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy freedom and equality in terms of employment and labor rights, which are effectively protected by law. The measures taken by the US have no factual basis. The US continues to manipulate the issue of “human rights,” using it as a pretext for unilateral protectionism and bullying. China strongly condemns this and firmly opposes it.
The spokesperson said that the US had recently listed a large number of Chinese entities on a so-called sanctions list related to Xinjiang. China has lodged formal protest with the US and has taken firm countermeasures. However, the US remains unrepentant and continues to impose new sanctions, including targeting Chinese biotech companies. The US's actions go against the consensus reached by the two heads of state, seriously undermine the stability of Sino-US economic and trade relations, and are also contrary to humanitarian principles. The US should immediately stop political manipulation and smear attacks, and cease its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies. China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own interests.
According to previous reports, in a notice published in the U.S. Federal Register on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security accused China’s genomics giant BGI Group and its two affiliated companies of engaging in forced labor, and thus listed their products on a so-called Entity List.
According to Bloomberg, although these companies have previously been listed on other U.S. restriction lists, facing restrictions such as access to U.S. technology and contracting with the U.S. government, this ban on imported products represents the “most severe measures” taken by the U.S. to restrict their business activities to date.
The Chinese side stated that the actions taken by the US lack factual basis, and urged the US government to stop 'attacking and slandering' Chinese companies. It also indicated that necessary measures would be taken to protect the interests of Chinese companies. Liu Chang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the US, said in a statement: 'The measures taken by the US have seriously damaged the legal rights and interests of relevant Chinese companies and have severely disrupted the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain.'
Huada Group and Huada Intelligence respectively issued statements denying the accusations by the US side, and stated their respect for internationally recognized human rights principles and labor standards. Both companies also indicated that their operations in the United States constitute only a small portion of their overall business.
Huada Group stated that it will 'actively communicate with relevant departments and take appropriate measures as needed'. Huada Intelligent Manufacturing also announced that it will challenge this designation decision and seek to have its company removed from the list.
In July this year, the United States listed some companies with relatively low fame on a so-called “forced labor” entity list. In response, China imposed sanctions on six American entities.
