Canada condemns treatment of Uighurs in China

The Canadian parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling the treatment of Uighurs by the Chinese government a “genocide”. The vote passed with 266 voting in favour, and no opposition. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet abstained from the vote. The Prime Minister said that while he recognised that there was in all likelihood mistreatment of Uighurs, the word “genocide” was “extremely loaded” and “specific”. He essentially said that if the word “genocide” was used, there should be absolute certainty. The vote signals pressure on the Prime Minister by legislators to take a tougher approach with China. The resolution also had a call to try and move the 2022 Olympics away from Beijing, or perhaps organise a boycott. The two countries, despite many economic ties, already have disputes on multiple issues, including the arrests of a Chinese Huawei executive in Canada, and the subsequent arrests of two Canadian citizens in China. The Chinese government once again denied the allegations of a “genocide” and criticised the decision.