Uyghur Policy Act of 2025: U.S. Mandates New Diplomatic Push, Funds Advocacy, and Demands Action on Xinjiang Abuses

The "Uyghur Policy Act of 2025" is laying down some serious markers for U.S. policy towards China's treatment of Uyghurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). This bill isn't just talk; it directs the Secretary of State to get proactive, funds human rights advocacy, and pushes for international accountability regarding what Congress describes as ongoing repression, mass detention, and even genocide. Essentially, it's a multi-pronged strategy to shine a brighter light on the situation and try to change it.

Spotlight on Xinjiang: What This Bill Says is Happening

So, what's the big deal here? Well, Congress isn't mincing words. The bill kicks off (Sec. 2) by laying out a pretty grim picture: the People's Republic of China (PRC) is systematically trying to erase the Islamic and Turkic identity of Uyghurs, with over a million people reportedly thrown into "extrajudicial political reeducation centers." We're talking forced indoctrination, torture, rape, and forced sterilization – stuff that, according to the bill, former Secretaries of State Antony Blinken and Michael Pompeo, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have confirmed as genocide and crimes against humanity. The bill also highlights (Sec. 3) that this isn't just happening within China's borders; Uyghurs living abroad, including family members of activists, are facing threats and surveillance. Congress is essentially saying, "We see what's going on, and it's not okay," and calls for the PRC to immediately release all those detained for their identity or beliefs, specifically naming individuals like Ekper Asat, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Kamile Wayit. They also want China to allow international observers and journalists unfettered access to the XUAR.

Boots on the Ground (Diplomatically Speaking): The State Department's New To-Do List

This Act puts the Secretary of State front and center (Sec. 4). Their mission is to make supporting Uyghurs a top priority. This means everything from meeting with Uyghur leaders – even traveling to the XUAR and Uyghur populations in Central Asia and Europe if appropriate – to coordinating with other countries, especially in Europe, Central Asia, and those in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to push for better human rights. A big piece of this is tackling what the bill calls "transnational repression" – that's when governments reach across borders to harass or silence their citizens, like activists or their families living in places like the U.S. The State Department is also tasked with setting up a way for people to report these incidents and must submit an annual report to Congress on these efforts. Heads up, though: this specific coordination mandate under Section 4 has a five-year clock on it and will expire after that unless renewed.

Money Talks: Funding the Message and Training the Messengers

Words are one thing, action (and funding) is another. This bill (Sec. 5) earmarks $250,000 a year for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027 from an existing State Department fund, the "Office of the United States Speaker Program." This cash is to help human rights advocates, chosen in consultation with the global Uyghur community, get the word out at international forums, particularly in Muslim-majority countries where the bill notes discussion has been "muted." Think of it as giving a megaphone to those directly affected and those working on their behalf. And to make sure U.S. diplomats are equipped, Section 8 requires that Uyghur language training be available to Foreign Service officers. The goal? To assign at least one Uyghur-speaking diplomat to each U.S. post in China. The Foreign Service Institute will need to report annually for three years on how this rollout is going.

Turning Up the Heat: Strategy and UN Action

The bill doesn't just want reports; it wants a game plan. Within 180 days of becoming law, the Secretary of State has to cook up a strategy (Sec. 7) to work with allies to pressure China to shut down all those detention facilities and political reeducation camps and allow independent eyes – think media, researchers, international organizations, and the UN – inside. It's about making sure prisoners aren't mistreated and get necessary medical care. On the international stage, specifically at the United Nations (Sec. 9), the U.S. Permanent Representative gets clear instructions: fight any attempt by any country to sweep human rights violations in Xinjiang under the rug, make sure Uyghur human rights advocates can participate in UN forums, and push for a special rapporteur or working group for the XUAR to monitor and report on what's happening.

The Fine Print: No New Cash, Just New Priorities

Now, for a dose of fiscal reality. While the bill sets out some ambitious goals and even allocates specific funds for the speaker program, Section 6 makes it clear: "No additional funds authorized." This means all these new tasks and strategies have to be paid for with money already in the government's piggy bank, essentially redirecting existing resources towards these new priorities. So, it's less about a new spending spree and more about a shift in focus for how current funds are used to address the Uyghur human rights crisis.