Shocking report exposes global Uyghur forced labor network

On June 11, the Netherlands-based Global Rights Coordination (GRC) released a new report revealing that several international companies are purchasing mineral resources linked to forced labor in East Turkistan. The release of this report, which focuses on rare earths, during the US-China trade talks has drawn increased attention from analysts.

The report reveals that the supply chains of international brands, including Nescafé, Coca-Cola, Carrefour, Walmart, Disney, and Starbucks, in China may be linked to forced labor in East Turkistan, particularly in the procurement of minerals such as titanium, lithium, beryllium, and magnesium.

The report, titled "Danger at the Source: Mineral Supply Chains and State-Imposed Forced Labor in the Uyghur Region," asserts that the basis of mineral exploration and processing activities in East Turkistan is a systematic forced labor mechanism targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples.

The report reveals that 77 Chinese mining and processing companies trading in mining products such as titanium, lithium, beryllium, and magnesium from East Turkistan have been involved in the Chinese regime's so-called "labor transfer." Over the past two years, at least 68 companies, including internationally renowned brands, have purchased products from Chinese companies linked to forced labour.

Experts say that systematic forced labor in East Turkistan is not only a means of reducing trade costs but has also contributed to the Chinese regime's repression of Uyghurs, including family separations, land seizures, and internment camps. The report reiterates that China's forced labor practices constitute crimes against humanity.

The report also notes that the US government passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in 2021, restricting the import of products manufactured with forced labor in East Turkistan. However, the current level of transparency in supply chains remains inadequate, and as a result, critical minerals such as titanium continue to flow widely into global markets. The Global Coordination of Rights (GCR) has called on all countries and companies to better scrutinize their supply chains and avoid links to forced labor in East Turkistan.

Currently, companies have not expressed their position on this report. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded to a reporter's question about the report yesterday, stressing that China has never forced anyone into forced labor and that the issue of forced labor in East Turkestan is a lie fabricated by anti-China forces. She called on some organizations to stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

According to statistics, the 153 minerals discovered so far in East Turkistan account for 88% of China's mineral resources. East Turkistan has now become China's primary base for titanium and beryllium production, and many countries have classified these minerals as "important strategic minerals." For this reason, China has accelerated its exploration and mining activities in East Turkistan in recent years, and has supplied them in bulk to Chinese companies.