Biden acts tough on Beijing, says after Xinjiang, situation in Hong Kong also ‘deteriorating’

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<strong>Growing political acrimony in the US-China relations was once again on full display at the White House Thursday night with US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussing not only the future roadmap on how to deal with the Xi Jinping regime but also highlighting the human rights issues in the country while standing on the same global stage.</strong></p>
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In what was probably Merkel's last visit to the Oval office as the German Chancellor, discussions on China dominated the one-on-one meeting between the two leaders and also during the expanded session.</p>
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"Both our nations — both our nations understand the imperative of proving that democracies can deliver the needs of our people in the second quarter of the 21st century. We will stand up for democratic principles and universal rights when we see China or any other country working to undermine free and open societies," Biden said after the meeting.</p>
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The US President said that Germany and the United States are working to advance a shared agenda as they prepare to meet the biggest challenges of today and tomorrow.</p>
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"We also talked about other priorities in our foreign policy. For example, our relationship with China. We are countries who stand up for free, democratic societies — stand up for those rights — civic rights for those who live in these societies. So, wherever human rights are not guaranteed, we will make our voices heard and make clear that we don’t agree with this. We are also for territorial integrity of all countries of the world," said Biden.</p>
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The US President had last month assured that Washington will not waver in its support of people in Hong Kong, saying that "intensifying repression by Beijing" has reached such a level that Apple Daily had to cease publishing.</p>
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As the US government prepares to issue a business advisory for Hong Kong today, Biden, with Merkel standing by his side, made it clear that pressure on Beijing will only mount in the coming days.</p>
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"The situation in Hong Kong is deteriorating. And the Chinese government is not keeping its commitment that it made how it would deal with — with Hong Kong.</p>
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Chancellor Merkel agreed that particularly as regards to the relationship with China, the two countries ought to coordinate efforts.</p>
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"We do that in the European Union, and we should do it with the United States," she said.</p>
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The Hong Kong business advisory from the Biden administration expected to be made public tonight will follow the updated Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory issued by the US Department of State, earlier this week in response to the Chinese government's "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang" and the growing evidence of its "use of forced labour" there.</p>
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The updated advisory highlights the heightened risks for businesses with supply chain and investment links to Xinjiang given the entities complicit in forced labor and other human rights abuses there and throughout China. It also notes that the Chinese government is perpetrating genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and provides specific information regarding risks related to investment in Chinese companies linked to surveillance and forced labor in Xinjiang.</p>
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The United States said that it will continue to promote accountability for the PRC's atrocities and other abuses through a "whole-of-government effort" and in close coordination with the private sector and our allies and partners.</p>
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China, on Thursday, labeled the accusation of forced labour as a "sheer lie", saying that it has stated its position on Xinjiang-related issues on many occasions and that the US should "earnestly reflect" on its own poor human rights record.</p>
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"What the US has done amounts to forced unemployment and forced impoverishment. It fully reveals the sinister intention of the US to use Xinjiang to contain China. On human rights, the US is in no position to lecture others in a sanctimonious way," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian in Beijing.</p>
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"In the US, there are about 500,000 child farm-workers and many work over 72 hours per week. Tens of thousands of people are trafficked into the US and sold to sweatshops. At least 500,000 people in the US have been subjected to modern slavery. The label of forced labour suits the US better than anyone else," he added.</p>
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Concerns over the "deterioration of democratic norms" in Hong Kong, the "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity" against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, the "pressure campaign" against Taiwan only add up to the already volatile situation in the South China Sea due to Beijing's claims to offshore resources across most of the region.</p>
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On Tuesday, the US had – in the Biden Administration's first meeting with 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – sent a strong message to the Chinese government on its maritime claims in the South China Sea.</p>
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Following the meeting, the US State Department said that the Secretary (Antony Blinken) had underscored the United States' rejection of the PRC's unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea and reiterated that the United States stands with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of PRC coercion.</p>
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Reacting strongly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had said that the US is attempting to "sow discord among China and ASEAN countries", and "sabotage regional peace and stability".</p>