Central Asian Nations Pressured by Beijing to Clamp Down on Uighur Activities
Washington, October 17 – The World Uighur Congress has warned that governments across Central Asia are feeling intense pressure from the Chinese government to limit the political, cultural and religious activities of Uighur communities living within their borders. According to the organization, Beijing has been lobbying Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and other regional states to adopt restrictive measures aimed at preventing what it calls "separatist" behavior.
WUC’s report notes that while many Uighurs sought refuge in Central Asia to escape the alleged repression in Xinjiang, they are now confronting a new wave of state‑led monitoring, intimidation and the possibility of forced repatriation. The congress says Chinese officials have repeatedly asked these governments to share intelligence on Uighur gatherings, to curb religious observances and to detain individuals deemed politically sensitive.
The organization cites past U.S. diplomatic interventions as a benchmark. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo highlighted the issue during a 2019 meeting with Central Asian leaders and again in 2020 on a visit to Kazakhstan, urging regional partners not to surrender Uighur refugees back to China.
WUC calls on Secretary Rubio, who will travel to Uzbekistan next week, to publicly condemn Beijing’s coercive tactics and to press Central Asian authorities to reject any Chinese demands that would lead to the monitoring, detention or deportation of Uighur residents. The congress warns that forced returns could expose individuals to torture, unlawful detention and other severe human‑rights violations.
The appeal follows an earlier request to the Trump administration to bring up the alleged genocide in Xinjiang and the intimidation of overseas Uighurs during President Xi’s September 24 visit to the United States. WUC President Turgunjan Alaudun described that visit as a "critical window for concrete international action" and appealed for sustained U.S. advocacy.
The WUC emphasizes that the safety of Uighurs in Central Asia depends on robust international support and on resisting Chinese attempts to silence a diaspora that continues to practice its faith and maintain cultural ties abroad.