‘Human rights heading in wrong direction’: Blinken condemns China, Myanmar

Voicing his concern, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Tuesday that human rights were declining around the world and vowed to do more, particularly mentioning outrage at China and Myanmar.

“The trend lines on human rights continue to move in the wrong direction,” Blinken told reporters as he presented the State Department’s annual report.

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“We see evidence of that in every region of the world. We see it in the genocide being committed against the predominantly Muslim Uighurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang,” Blinken said, AFP reported.

He was renewing assertions since the final days of the previous administration of Donald Trump that Chinese authorities are carrying out genocide in the western region, a charge that Beijing denies.

Following that Blinken also lashed out at Myanmar’s junta for their crackdown on protesters, who are demanding a restoration of democracy.

“We condemn these and other widespread violations by Burma’s security forces in the strongest terms,” he said, using Myanmar’s former name.

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In a veiled criticism of Trump’s approach, Blinken said that President Joe Biden’s administration would not spare allies.

“The Biden-Harris administration will stand against human rights abuses wherever they occur, regardless of whether the perpetrators are adversaries or partners.”