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BREAKING: Huge announcement from @SecPompeo: "I have determined that the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang."
A few notes about this: journalists and international researchers have consistently identified at least 2, if not 3, acts committed by Beijing listed in the Genocide Convention:
1. "Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group"; 2. "Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group"; 3. "Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group"
But there's a fundamental question whether US can prove _intent_ to "destroy.” Intent is required by the Convention, and “destroy” being determined by ICJ and State in past to be biological, i.e., so people don’t survive. Some independent experts question whether that's the case.
Legal experts say there aren’t many legal implications/impacts on the Biden Administration, although there is language requiring states to “prevent and punish,” and there’s a requirement to extradite relevant suspects.
But all experts say announcement creates _moral_ and _political_ obligation. That leads to outstanding questions: does it help Biden marshal international opinion? Or does international community dismiss declaration as 11th hour politics? Will Biden team feel restricted?
Important to note Biden campaign used this language already: https://www.axios.com/biden-campaign-china-uighur-genocide-3ad857a7-abfe-4b16-813d-7f074a8a04ba.html
