Activists Highlight Ethnic Cleansing Under Chinese Regime
Activists representing communities affected by ethnic cleansing and genocide under the Chinese Communist Party recently appealed to Congress. During a briefing, they not only condemned China’s human rights violations but also claimed their communities are sovereign nations that have been colonized by the Chinese state.
Among the activists were representatives from regions such as Tibet, East Turkestan, and southern Mongolia. The Chinese government has rebranded these areas, calling them “Xizang” and “Xinjiang,” while seeking to control lands that don’t traditionally belong to China, like parts of India and regions in the South China Sea.
The briefing coincided with a Parliamentary event known as the Briefing on POW Nations, held during “Police of War Week.” This week commemorates the struggles of those under communist imperialism, a tradition that began in 1959 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. POW Week typically highlights human rights violations by regimes in countries like North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.
Iran was also mentioned alongside representatives from the Uyghur, Tibetan, and Mongolian communities during this briefing. Notably, Iran has close ties with the communist regime in Cuba, and it has been designated as a POW nation.
The East Turkestan government in exile has been advocating for worldwide recognition of East Turkestan as a sovereign nation for the Uyghur people, recently releasing a video of the event.
This briefing took place on July 21, 2025, at the Rayburn House Office Building and served to commemorate the POW nation resolution (Public Law 86-90). The gathering brought together various representatives and experts to discuss ongoing struggles against occupation and repression, reminding attendees of the historical context behind the Captive of War Resolution.
Sally Hudayar, a spokesperson for East Turkestan’s Foreign Ministry, pointed out the severe genocide faced by their community due to the Chinese Communist Party’s actions. He noted that East Turkestan is explicitly mentioned in the 1959 resolution, not as part of China but as a territory affected by communist imperialism. He stressed that merely removing the CCP is insufficient; the entire Chinese Empire needs dismantling. “Restoring freedom is not just an aspiration; it’s our obligation,” he stated.
Home to a significant population of Uyghurs and various other Turkish ethnic groups, East Turkestan was a sovereign republic from 1933 until it faced colonization following a leadership crisis in 1949. For decades, the Chinese government has subjected Uyghurs to severe oppression, with evidence of extensive genocidal actions surfacing since 2017. A human rights tribunal even determined in late 2021 that China’s actions constituted a “guilt beyond rational genocide,” revealing a chilling picture of mass detentions, torture, and organ harvesting.
“Millions are confined in concentration camps, and over a million children have been separated from their families,” Hudayar reported.
Tibet is experiencing similar oppression, especially aimed at eradicating its rich Buddhist culture. Activists highlighted how Tibetan children are funneled into indoctrination camps, while the Tibetan community faces enforced servitude.
Tenzin Wanggudu, a Tibetan representative, reiterated that Tibet was never legally part of China and spoke of the region’s long history of governance, culture, and identity stretching back over a thousand years.
Meanwhile, Se Hoon Kim, a Korean-American journalist, shed light on the plight of Southern Mongolians, who have faced systemic attacks on their cultural identity, language, and traditional lifestyles. He emphasized that the situation is not merely about crackdowns but an organized attempt to assimilate and erase ancient heritage.
Kim also discussed the broader implications of China’s imperial ambitions, linking these to the ongoing repression in other nations, particularly Cuba, just miles off the U.S. coast, where the Chinese regime has expanded its influence significantly. The Cuban government has openly acknowledged its partnership with China in furthering oppression.
