Ambassadors Confront China About Muslim Uighur Mass Detention Camps

A group of at least 14 Western-country ambassadors are confronting China about ‘education camps’ in the far-west province of Xinjiang where an estimated one million Uighurs are being detained.

The Chinese government fears that this Muslim subset of the Chinese population has terrorist proclivities. In recent years Uighur fanatics have been responsible for terrorist attacks.

It is reported that these million Uighurs have been sent to the gulag-esque camps for an indefinite period, and without a trial. Millions more who are not in the camps are under heightened watch by facial-recognition technology, smart phone scanners, and police patrols.

Muslim countries who receive loans from China have been slower to criticize the arrangement. However, Turkey, from where the Uighurs originate, denounced China at a recent UN Human Rights Council meeting.

Multiple countries signed a letter asking to meet with Xinjiang's Communist Party boss, Chen Quanguo, who oversees the camps. Australia who exports heavily to China did. New Zealand who also exports to China did not.

Those involved are unsure what Trump will say at the G20 meeting in Argentina later this month where China's President Xi Jinping will be in attendance -- whether he will keep the party line or praise China.

Additional resources:
Business Insider "Beijing says it's 'very rude' for 14 countries and the EU to ask them about detaining 1 million Muslims"
The Economist "The West begins to stir over China’s massive abuse of Muslims"
CSIS "Responding to the Xinjiang Surveillance State—and Its Likely Progeny"