31 lawmakers from 16 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, have sent a letter to the German chemical company BASF, which works closely with the Chinese Communist Party and is part of the system of persecution against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. In the letter addressed to BASF’s CEO, the parliamentarians demand an immediate withdrawal from Xinjiang and call for a transparent explanation of the allegations. Among the Polish politicians, Anna Fotyga (ECR) is a co-author of the letter.
“Since 1933, BASF IG Farben has profited from its close cooperation with the NSDAP, symbolized by the production of Zyklon B, which was used by the Germans for the mass extermination of Jews and Poles. Last week, the media revealed a report accusing BASF companies of involvement in the repression of the Uyghurs. Among the allegations are espionage and participation in the “re-education” campaign—as the Chinese Communist Party refers to the persecution of the Muslim minority.
This is not the first indication that German and other European companies, including automakers such as Volkswagen and companies in the so-called green technology sector, continue their operations in China while being aware that their production chains rely on forced labor by Uyghurs. A report on this subject recently presented to the European Parliament demonstrates that, although the leadership of these companies is aware of this, they remain in the Xinjiang region, taking advantage of preferential conditions for their businesses deliberately created there by the Chinese government. “In my view, these companies are thus becoming a link in the chain of persecution in China,” emphasized Anna Fotyga.
Due to China’s use of forced labor, a number of countries, including the United States, have imposed a ban on imports of goods originating from Xinjiang.
