US lawmakers are urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to issue a “Do Not Travel” notice for the Xinjiang region of western China. Rep. Chris Smith and Sen. Jeff Merkley, chair and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, are requesting that the travel advisory rating for Xinjiang be raised to the highest level due to ongoing human rights abuses, including genocide, committed by the Chinese regime against the Uyghur minority and other groups.
The lawmakers argue that tourism in Xinjiang only serves to whitewash these atrocities and supports the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and government. They emphasize that well-intentioned tourists should not be put in a position where they are condoning or supporting these crimes, or be used as propaganda pawns to cover up the genocide.
In addition to urging the State Department to issue the travel advisory, the lawmakers have also sent letters to three private travel companies that offer package vacations to Xinjiang. They express concerns about these tours, which often include visits to mosques that are off-limits to Uyghur communities for practicing their faith but are used for commercial purposes. Some tours even include visits to local Uyghur families, despite the fact that Uyghurs are forcibly separated from their family members both within the region and abroad.
The lawmakers question whether the Turkic and Muslim people involved in these tours are participating voluntarily or if they are coerced through the risk of punishment from authorities. They call on Geographic Expeditions and Abercrombie & Kent to stop selling tours to Xinjiang immediately and express concerns about Wild Frontiers’ package holidays in the region. The Uyghur Human Rights Project has flagged all three companies in its 2023 report, warning them about implicitly supporting genocidal Chinese government policies.
Wild Frontiers has responded to the report by stating that it is currently conducting a full investigation into its tours in Xinjiang. The lawmakers seek information on the status of this investigation and why the tours with stops in Xinjiang are still advertised on the company’s website. They also inquire about monitoring mechanisms to ensure that local residents participating in the tours do so freely.
When asked about the letter, a spokesperson for the State Department stated that it does not publicly comment on specific congressional correspondence. However, the department’s country information page on China includes details about the situation in Xinjiang, including extraordinary security measures and invasive surveillance techniques against individuals, as well as specific risks for travelers with ethnic ties to the region. The spokesperson emphasized that the United States condemns the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.
In February, the House adopted two measures focused on human rights in China, including the Uyghur Policy Act. These measures aim to create tools for the United States to support Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities and preserve their cultural identities.
The response from the State Department and the lack of comment from the travel companies involved raises concerns about the role of tourism in Xinjiang and its potential contribution to the Chinese government’s efforts to cover up its human rights abuses. With mounting evidence and international condemnation of the genocide taking place in Xinjiang, it is crucial for countries and individuals to take a stand against these atrocities and refuse to be complicit through tourism.
