Rep. Moran proposes a new bill that aims to cut U.S. government business with companies linked to forced labor in East Turkistan, pushing for stronger accountability on China.
U.S. Representative Nathaniel Moran (R-Tyler) has reintroduced a bill that seeks to prohibit government dealings with companies connected to East Turkistan, known officially in China as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The bill, which previously passed the House of Representatives but failed to advance in the Senate, aims to curb economic ties with entities benefiting from forced labor and human rights abuses in the region.
Moran emphasized both the economic and moral imperatives behind the legislation. “Not only is this an economic pushback, but frankly, this is a moral issue around the world,” he stated. “China is acting in a very immoral way. We do not want to be a co-conspirator to slave labor.”
The Chinese government has been accused of committing genocide against the Uyghur population, a predominantly Muslim minority, through mass internment camps, forced labor, and policies aimed at erasing their cultural identity.
Dr. John Barrett, Associate Professor of Political Science at LeTourneau University, highlighted China’s broader strategy in the region. “The Chinese government wants to integrate East Turkistan into China itself,” Barrett said. “They have encouraged Han Chinese migration to the region while implementing measures to undermine Uyghur cultural identity. This has tragically led to large concentration camps where Uyghurs are subjected to various programs designed to discourage them from participating in their culture.”
The region is a significant global supplier of cotton, with the United States Department of Agriculture reporting that a majority of China’s cotton production originates from East Turkistan. Barrett noted that while the bill may not have a major economic impact by itself, it signals a broader challenge for China. “The larger concern for China is the potential for a wider boycott of Chinese goods that cannot be verified as free from forced labor,” he explained.
The bill aligns with the growing bipartisan consensus in Washington to take a tougher stance on China. “One of the things that there’s a bipartisan consensus on these days is that we need to have a tougher stance vis-à-vis China,” Barrett said. “This legislation is part of that broader effort.”
Moran reaffirmed that the bill is just one step in holding China accountable. “This is not the end of the legislative actions needed to stop these atrocities, but it is certainly a good step forward,” he said.
The proposed legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for further deliberation.
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