The United States has announced trade restrictions on eight companies, including two based in China and several in Russia, accusing them of enabling human rights violations.
The measures, unveiled on Tuesday, place these entities on a restrictive “entity list,” requiring US firms to obtain a license before exporting to them.
According to AFP news, Truthlivenews learnt that among the Chinese companies targeted is Zhejiang Uniview Technologies, which US officials allege has facilitated surveillance of Uyghurs and other minority groups. Beijing Zhongdun Security Technology Group was also named for allegedly supplying technology that enables rights violations by public security authorities.
“Human rights abuses are contrary to the foreign policy interests of the United States,” said Alan Estevez, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. He emphasized that the move aims to prevent US technology from being used to commit human rights violations.
China’s foreign ministry responded with sharp criticism. Spokeswoman Mao Ning called the sanctions “open and fearless suppression of Chinese high-tech companies under the guise of human rights.” She accused the US of hypocrisy, claiming it deprives Chinese people of their development rights. “If the United States really cares about human rights, it should first patch up its own rights debts,” she added.
The US has been vocal in condemning China’s treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, where rights groups allege over one million people, mostly from Muslim minorities, have been detained and subjected to abuses. Beijing denies these allegations.
Truthlivenews further learnt that the sanctions also extend to two companies in Myanmar and two others in Russia. The Myanmar firms are accused of supplying components to the military for acts such as aerial attacks on civilians. Meanwhile, the Russian entities are alleged to have provided facial recognition technology used to target peaceful protesters as part of Moscow’s surveillance network.
Attempts to reach the Chinese companies for comment were unsuccessful, with one call being abruptly disconnected and others going unanswered.