Advertisement

Trudeau says China must address world’s ‘significant’ concerns on Uyghur abuse

Click to play video: 'China’s treatment of Uyghur minority is ‘totally unacceptable’: Garneau'
China’s treatment of Uyghur minority is ‘totally unacceptable’: Garneau
WATCH: Garneau says China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority is ‘totally unacceptable’ – Mar 28, 2021

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says China has to address the world’s concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs living in the Xinjiang region.

Last week, Canada joined the United States and the United Kingdom in slapping sanctions on China due to allegations of horrific mistreatment and abuse of China’s Uyghur population in the Xinjiang region.

“We have always been very, very strong in our defence of human rights and… highlighting our concerns for what’s going on in Xinjiang,” Trudeau said during a United Nations press conference on Monday.

Over the weekend, China hit multiple Canadian and American politicians with sanctions in apparent retaliation.

Trudeau said the sanctions against China were aimed at making the point that the world’s “concerns about what’s going on (in Xinjiang) are significant and need to be responded to by the Chinese government.”

Story continues below advertisement
Click to play video: 'China announces sanctions on individuals, entities in Canada, U.S.'
China announces sanctions on individuals, entities in Canada, U.S.

Following the announcement of the sanctions, one Chinese government official took to social media to call Trudeau a “boy.”

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“Boy, your greatest achievement is to have ruined the friendly relations between China and Canada, and have turned Canada into a running dog of the US,” China’s consul general in Rio de Janeiro, Li Yang, wrote in a tweet.

“Spendthrift!!!”

Story continues below advertisement

In a statement issued early last week, Global Affairs said that “mounting evidence” points to “systemic, state-led human rights violations by Chinese authorities” in the region.

“This includes the mass arbitrary detention of more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities on the basis of their religion and ethnicity, as well as political re-education, forced labour, torture and forced sterilization.”

In a further show of a multi-country consensus, a joint statement was released by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and the United States secretary of state last week.

“The evidence, including from the Chinese Government’s own documents, satellite imagery, and eyewitness testimony is overwhelming,” the statement read.

“China’s extensive program of repression includes severe restrictions on religious freedoms, the use of forced labour, mass detention in internment camps, forced sterilisations, and the concerted destruction of Uyghur heritage.”

Click to play video: 'Trudeau signals continued cooperation with ‘international partners’ in wake of China sanctions'
Trudeau signals continued cooperation with ‘international partners’ in wake of China sanctions

The United Nations, meanwhile, has been pushing to obtain unfettered access to the Xinjiang region in order to get a handle on the situation on the ground.

Story continues below advertisement

When pressed about the push during Monday’s press conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN is “seriously engaging” the Chinese government on the possibility of a visit.

“We are seriously engaging the Chinese government in order to be able to have the mission of the human rights high commissioner and to make sure that that mission has no unacceptable limitations,” he said.

“So I hope that these negotiations will be concluded positively.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices