On Monday, March 22, RFI President Thomas Farr appeared on EWTN News Nightly to discuss the potential effectiveness of new sanctions, imposed by the United States, European Union, the UK, and others against Chinese officials for their involvement in the genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang Province.  

When asked whether Secretary of State Blinken’s latest actions constituted a appropriate measure for addressing China’s enormous violations of human rights, Farr answered:   

Absolutely, it was the right thing to do. I’m encouraged by Secretary Blinken…. He’s not backing away. This is a small step, but it’s very important. You’ll recall perhaps that Secretary Pompeo and the previous administration declared genocide…. Ambassador-at-Large Sam Brownback declared that China was conducting a war on faith. [These sanctions] continue this but expand [upon the work of the Trump administration] by bringing… to bear, as [Secretary Blinken] said, our partners: the Canadians, the United Kingdom, and especially the EU. 

To a follow-up question inquiring whether the Biden Administration and its international partners’ foreign policy actions would affect change within China, Farr replied: 

Well, it’s not working yet, and it’s going to work in increments if at all …We are not allowing certain officials into our country or into the EU countries, officials that have some authority over these concentration camps. And I would remind your viewers that these Muslims—hundreds of thousands of them: innocent men, women, and children—are being subjected to horrific crimes against humanity. Torture. Rape. Medical experiments. These are concentration camps. We need to remember that. The Chinese are not going to change this unless we can ramp up the pressure. So, I really hope the Biden Administration will do this.

Farr then reflected on the power of showing solidarity with China’s persecuted and downtrodden. He concluded:

We’re giving hope to other religious communities inside China and to the people of Hong Kong that not only the West but the world is paying attention. So this is very important.  

Watch the full interview here: EWTN News Nightly | Monday, March 22, 2021