Why China and US Disagree on Forced Labor in Xinjiang

The US and China have many trade disputes, but none perhaps as explosive as accusations about forced labor being used in China’s Xinjiang region. The Chinese government, which vehemently denies the charges, says outsiders have misconstrued a rural jobs program that aims to improve living standards for ethnic minorities in poor regions. But many people from one targeted group — the mainly Muslim Uyghurs living in Xinjiang — say that they have no choice but to participate or risk having themselves or family members put in detention. An assessment released this year by the United Nations human rights chief found serious violations of human rights that may amount to crimes against humanity. The US, which says the program contributes to a Chinese government campaign of genocide, has stepped up the pressure on the country with new sanctions and trade restrictions.

It has roots in China’s “hukou” registration system, which determines where people can live and work. In the late 1970s, leader Deng Xiaoping started opening the country to foreign investment and made it easier for workers to move around. Even so, by the turn of the century the number of “surplus rural laborers” was estimated at 100 million to 200 million people. In 2002, the Communist Party decided to lift all movement restrictions, so long as population flows were “orderly” and “guided.” The Agriculture Ministry then urged local governments to boost vocational training for rural workers and link them with job opportunities in cities in a program that was seen as a tool for ending poverty.