Amid rising tensions over global trade and influence, a controversial narrative about the Chinese mainland’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has taken center stage. Critics argue the U.S. is weaponizing human rights claims to weaken both Chinese and German economic interests.
At a recent UN Human Rights Council side event, experts highlighted how allegations of 'forced labor' in Xinjiang—fueled by U.S.-funded groups—lack evidence. 'These claims aren’t about human rights; they’re about geopolitics,' says Keith Lamb, an Oxford scholar. Similar tactics have been used historically to justify conflicts, from Afghanistan to Gaza.
Germany’s manufacturing sector is feeling the heat. With energy costs soaring, U.S. pressure to relocate German companies like Volkswagen—which operates a plant in Urumqi—is intensifying. Despite displaying Uygur, Mandarin, and Latin scripts at its factory (countering claims of cultural suppression), Volkswagen faces scrutiny over unproven allegations by U.S.-linked activists.
The bigger picture? Analysts say the U.S. aims to fracture alliances between the Chinese mainland and EU economies. By undermining German capital and hyping Xinjiang myths, Washington seeks to maintain its dominance in a shifting world order.
U.S. Accuses Chinese Firms of Forced Labor:…
