By Alcott Wei,Xinlu Liang

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A senior official with the Xinjiang regional government said US sanctions would lead to reduced job opportunities in the region, in the first official confirmation of their economic impact.
Chen Weijun, vice-chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, told a press conference on Friday that those affected included ethnic Uygurs, but expressed confidence in the region’s future development.
Chen also denied accusations of forced labour – a major reason for the sanctions – and said workers from all ethnic groups were working voluntarily.
“In the short term, US sanctions will have some negative impact on Xinjiang’s economic development,” Chen said.
“Some enterprises face difficulties exporting products, are suffering losses and have reduced production capacity – leading to fewer job opportunities for workers from all ethnic groups, including the Uygurs.”
It was the first time the Xinjiang government had acknowledged the impact of US sanctions on the local economy, first reported by the Post.
The Xinjiang government has not released any data on unemployment directly caused by the sanctions.
“The unreasonable sanctions imposed by the US, under the guise of protecting human rights, infringe upon the employment rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. If there is anything forced, it is the US that is creating forced unemployment,” Chen said.
Chen also said: “Xinjiang is the forefront of my country’s opening to the west, with a vast domestic market of 1.4 billion people and access to international markets in Asia, Europe and Africa… More and more ‘Made in Xinjiang’ products are sold worldwide and are popular with consumers.”
Beijing has faced persistent accusations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including forced labour, particularly targeted at the mainly Muslim Uygurs.

Washington has imposed a series of sanctions on businesses in Xinjiang since 2019. At least 144 Chinese companies exporting clothing, minerals, electronic products, chemicals and steel have been targeted.
Beijing has consistently rejected these accusations, saying its policies are designed to combat terrorism and separatism, and condemned the sanctions as “designed to cause unemployment in the region”.
China also pledged that the authorities would “support enterprises to increase investment in technology and expand into broader international markets, helping these industries and enterprises overcome current difficulties,” Chen said.
A study presented at a conference held by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in April concluded that the US ban on cotton products originating from Xinjiang had led to a 17 per cent decrease in Chinese cotton exports to the US.
In 2021, then vice-minister for foreign affairs Le Yucheng said US sanctions against businesses in Xinjiang aimed to cause “forced unemployment” and “forced poverty”.