The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) has expressed its approval of the advancement of the Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 (S.1542) by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. At the same time, the organization is urging American lawmakers and the administration to take additional measures to address the situation in East Turkistan.
Legislation Details
According to a press release from the ETGE, the bill was introduced by Senator John Curtis and co-sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley. The legislation aims to enhance US support for Uyghurs through diplomatic engagement, foreign assistance programs, Uyghur-language training for Foreign Service Officers, and efforts to counter attempts to block discussions of Uyghur issues in international forums. The ETGE noted that a companion measure in the House of Representatives had already been passed in September 2025.
ETGE President's Response
Dr. Mamtimin Ala, President of the ETGE, welcomed the committee's decision to move the bill forward. However, he argued that international efforts have not sufficiently addressed what the group describes as an ongoing genocide. He maintained that the issue should be viewed not only through a human rights lens but also in the context of what the organization calls the Chinese colonial occupation of East Turkistan.
Criticism of Terminology
The ETGE press release also criticized references to Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples as "minorities" within China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The organization claimed that such terminology undermines their right to self-determination and obscures the broader political dimensions of the conflict.
Concerns Over Chinese Policies
According to the press release, the ETGE expressed concern over recent remarks by senior Chinese leader Wang Huning during a visit to the region. The organization alleged that policies promoting ethnic unity and intensified counterterrorism measures contribute to what it describes as cultural erasure and repression.
Allegations of Repression
The group reiterated allegations that China's "Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism," launched in 2014, has involved mass detention, forced labor, coercive birth-control measures, and the destruction of cultural heritage, according to the ETGE press release.
Calls for US Action
The ETGE press release also called on the United States to appoint a Special Coordinator for East Turkistani Issues at the State Department, similar to the existing position focused on Tibet. Additionally, the organization urged targeted sanctions against Chinese officials and support for East Turkistan-related initiatives at the United Nations.
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