WASHINGTON, 09 July 2021, (TON): The Biden administration is set to add more than 10 Chinese companies to its economic blacklist for alleged human rights abuses and high-tech surveillance in Xinjiang.

The US Commerce Department action follows the addition of five other companies and other Chinese entities to the blacklist over allegations of forced labour in the far western region of China.

The sources said “the additions to Commerce Department’s Entity List are part of the Biden administration’s efforts to hold China accountable for human rights violations.”

China dismisses accusations of genocide and forced labour in Xinjiang and says its policies are necessary to stamp out separatists and religious extremists, who plotted attacks and stirred up tension between mostly Muslim ethnic Uighurs and Han, China’s largest ethnic group.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

One of the sources said the department plans to add 14 Chinese companies to the Entity List for reported abuses in Xinjiang.