Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) have expressed their disappointment with the Biden Administration's delayed implementation of sanctions on Chinese officials involved in the Uyghur genocide. The administration recently announced its intention to issue sanctions on certain Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, a law enacted in 2020 to hold perpetrators of the genocide accountable.

In their statement, Rubio and Gallagher welcomed the news of the sanctions but criticized the administration for its slow response. They particularly highlighted the absence of Ma Xingrui, the CCP boss in Xinjiang, from the list of designated individuals. Ma has been responsible for implementing the CCP's genocidal policies against the Uyghurs and other ethnic groups.

The lawmakers emphasized that Ma's status as a CCP Politburo member should not shield him from U.S. targeted sanctions. They called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to explain why the top CCP official in Xinjiang, who plays a significant role in implementing Xi Jinping's genocidal policies, did not meet the criteria for U.S. sanctions.

Rubio and Gallagher warned that if the administration refuses to hold the major perpetrators of the Uyghur genocide accountable, Congress will take the lead in addressing human rights issues. They stated, "If the administration refuses to hold the major perpetrators of the Uyghur genocide accountable, Congress will take the lead on human rights where the administration has thrown in the towel."

This statement from Rubio and Gallagher follows their consistent efforts to address the Uyghur human rights crisis. Over the past year, they have been actively pushing for accountability and sanctions related to the forced labor and human rights abuses against the Uyghur population.

It is clear that Rubio and Gallagher are determined to hold the Chinese officials responsible for the Uyghur genocide accountable. They are urging the Biden Administration to take a stronger stance and not compromise on the issue of human rights. The lawmakers' call for action reflects the growing concern within Congress about the need to address the atrocities being committed against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.

The Biden Administration must address these concerns and provide a detailed explanation for the exclusion of Ma Xingrui from the sanctions list. The international community is watching closely as the U.S. takes steps to hold accountable those responsible for the Uyghur genocide.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/rubio-gallagher-statement-on-biden-admins-watered-down-sanctions-on-chinese-officials-conducting-genocide/