Xinjiang Abuses Show Need for Robust EU Forced Labor Law
Human Rights WatchFeb 29
EU Parliament to Pursue Ban on Forced Labor
The Facts
On Tuesday, the European Parliament voted on a motion to ban forced labor-manufactured products. Legislators reportedly aim to prohibit imports from areas including Xinjiang, home to China's Uyghur Muslim minority, though China isn't explicitly mentioned in the law.
The new law passed with 555 votes in favor, six against, and 45 abstentions. Before the new law takes effect in 2027 it must be ratified by member states.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
State-enforced forced labor is a huge problem all throughout the world, yet it is also extremely difficult to identify. This vital new law will provide the EU with the powers it needs to restrict imports and exports of forced-labor items. It will allow the European Commission to identify high-risk economic sectors that employ forced labor, such as China's Xinjiang aluminum industry. This new law will help mitigate forced labor abuses throughout the world.
Pro-China narrative
The Biden administration has accused Beijing of everything from the mass imprisonment of Uyghurs to forcible sterilization and genocide in its attempts to undermine China's economic rise. The main source for this misinformation is the controversial Xinjiang researcher Adrian Zenz with the right-wing Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. This is yet another trade restriction made to protect Europes markets from Chinese goods.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance China will surpass the United States economically, militarily, and scientifically by February 2062, according to the Metaculus prediction community.