U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo participates in a press briefing in the White House. WASHINGTON - On his way out the door, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hit China with new sanctions by declaring that China’s policies on Muslims and ethnic minorities in western Xinjiang Province constitute a "genocide."Pompeo made the determination on Tuesday just 24 hours before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
There was no immediate response from the incoming Biden team, although several members have been sympathetic to such a designation in the past.
Pompeo’s determination does not come with any immediate repercussions.Many of those accused of having taken part in repression in Xinjiang are already under U.S.