The expanded list also includes companies linked to the mining industry, such as Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Industry Group and its subsidiaries…reports Asian Lite News
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), added 29 Chinese companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, a statement by the DHS said.
This brings the total number of entities on the list to 107, as part of the US government’s efforts to combat forced labour in global supply chains, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China.
The UFLPA, which went into effect in 2022, aims to prevent the importation of goods produced using forced labour, especially from regions linked to human rights abuses, such as Xinjiang. DHS Secretary Alejandro N Mayorkas emphasized that the US will continue to aggressively enforce the act, holding accountable companies that engage in forced labour practices and safeguarding US markets from the exploitation of vulnerable populations, particularly Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities.
The 29 newly listed entities are primarily involved in the agricultural, manufacturing, and electronics sectors. The companies are suspected of either sourcing material from Xinjiang or working with the Chinese government to exploit Uyghur labour.
Among them are Tianjin Tianwei Food Co, which sources tomatoes from Xinjiang, and Xinjiang Zhonghe Co, which allegedly collaborates with local authorities to recruit Uyghurs for forced labour programs.
The expanded list also includes companies linked to the mining industry, such as Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Industry Group and its subsidiaries, which are accused of using coerced labour in the extraction of valuable metals like lithium and gold. These actions follow ongoing investigations that have uncovered substantial evidence of forced labour operations within the region, the statement said.
As per the statement, in line with the new measures, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by the listed companies will be prohibited from entering the US unless the companies can provide clear evidence that their products were not made using forced labour. This initiative reflects the Biden administration’s commitment to upholding human rights and ethical sourcing in global trade.
Since the enactment of the UFLPA, CBP reviewed over 10,000 shipments valued at more than USD 3.6 billion, marking significant progress in preventing goods made through forced labour from entering US markets.
Mayorkas and Robert Silvers, Under Secretary for Policy and Chair of the FLETF, both stressed the importance of industry accountability, urging companies to thoroughly vet their supply chains and adopt ethical practices.
“The United States will not tolerate forced labor in the goods entering our markets,” said Silvers. “The UFLPA is a powerful tool, and we are using it to its full potential,” the statement quoted him as saying.
As DHS continues to target companies involved in human rights violations, the expansion of the UFLPA Entity List underscores the US government’s commitment to eradicating forced labour and promoting a fairer, more responsible global trade system, the statement added. (ANI
Washington making contingency plans for Taiwan
The United States is drawing up contingency plans for military deployments in Japan and the Philippines in case of an emergency over Taiwan, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported Monday, November 25. They will be incorporated in a first joint operation plan to be formulated in December, according to sources familiar with Japan-US relations, Kyodo said late Sunday.
A US Marine regiment which possesses the multiple-launch HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) would be deployed along Japan’s Nansei island chain stretching from Kyushu to Yonaguni near Taiwan, Kyodo said.
From an early stage, if a Taiwan contingency becomes highly imminent, temporary bases will be set up on inhabited islands based on US military guidelines for dispatching marines in small formations to several locations, the report added.
Japan’s military is expected to mainly engage in logistical support for the marine unit, including supplying fuel and ammunition, it said. Kyodo added that the US Army would deploy Multi-Domain Task Force long-range fire units in the Philippines, Kyodo said.
The Japanese and the Philippines defense ministries were not immediately available for comment. The US embassy in Manila declined to comment while the Chinese embassy in Manila “noted” the Kyodo report.
China is building up its military capacity while ramping up pressure on self-governed Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory.
Washington has been strengthening alliances in the region, while infuriating Beijing with regular deployments of ships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported an increase in Chinese military activity around the island, detecting five People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, seven PLAN vessels and one official ship operating in the vicinity of Taiwan as of 6am on Tuesday.
Four of the detected aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
In a post on X, the Taiwanese MND said, “5 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
In recent times, Chinese incursion has increased in Taiwan. In response, Taiwan has stepped up security on its maritime borders.
On Monday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) detected 12 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, and seven PLAN vessels operating in the vicinity of Taiwan.
Eight of the detected aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
In a post on X, the MND stated, “12 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”