Download pdf - Beyond the Camps: Beijing's Grand Scheme of …...Beyond the Camps - Adrian Zenz - CECC Hearing Testimony, October 17, 2019 1 Beyond the Camps: Beijing's Grand Scheme of Coercive Labor,

BeyondtheCamps-AdrianZenz-CECCHearingTestimony,October17,2019

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BeyondtheCamps:Beijing'sGrandSchemeofCoerciveLabor,PovertyAlleviationandSocialControlinXinjiangAdrianZenzSeniorFellowinChinaStudiesVictimsofCommunismMemorialFoundation,Washington,D.C.WrittenTestimonyfortheHearingoftheCongressionalExecutiveCommissiononChina1.IntroductionAfterrecruitingahundredormorethousandpoliceforces,installingmassivesurveillancesystems,andinterningvastnumbersofpredominantlyTurkicminoritypopulationmembers,manyhavebeenwonderingaboutBeijing'snextstepinitsso-called"waronTerror"inXinjiang.Sincethesecondhalfof2018,limitedbutapparentlygrowingnumbersofdetaineeshavebeenreleasedintodifferentformsofforcedlabor.Inthisreportitisarguedbasedongovernmentdocumentsthatthestate'slong-termstabilitymaintenancestrategyinXinjiangispredicateduponaperverseandextremelyintrusivecombinationofforcedoratleastinvoluntarytrainingandlabor,intergenerationalseparationandsocialcontroloverfamilyunits.Muchofthisisbeingimplementedundertheheadingandguiseof"povertyalleviation".Below,theauthoridentifiesthreedistinctflowschemesbywhichthestateseekstoplacethevastmajorityofadultUyghursandotherminoritypopulations,bothmenandwomen,intodifferentformsofcoerciveoratleastinvoluntary,labor-intensivefactorywork.Thisisachievedthroughacombinationofinternmentcampworkshops,largeindustrialparks,andvillage-basedsatellitefactories.Whiletheparentsarebeingherdedintofull-timework,theirchildrenareputintofull-time(atleastfullday-time)educationandtrainingsettings.Thisincludeschildrenbelowpreschoolage(infantsandtoddlers),sothatethnicminoritywomenarebeing"liberated"and"freed"toengageinfull-timewagelabor.Notably,bothfactoryandeducationalsettingsareessentiallystate-controlledenvironmentsthatfacilitateongoingpoliticalindoctrinationwhilebarringreligiouspractices.Asaresult,thedissolutionoftraditional,religiousandfamilylifeisonlyamatteroftime.Thetargeteduseofvillageworkteamsandvillage-basedsatellitefactoriesmeansthatthisgrand"povertyalleviation"andsocialre-engineeringschemepenetratesintoeverycornerofethnicminoritysocietywithunprecedentedpervasiveness.Consequently,itisarguedthatBeijing'sgrandschemeofforcededucation,trainingandlaborinXinjiangsimultaneouslyachievesatleastfivemaingoalsinthiscoreregionoftheBeltandRoadInitiative(BRI):maintaintheminoritypopulationinstate-controlledenvironments,inhibitintergenerationalculturaltransmission,achievenationalpovertyreductiongoals,promoteeconomicgrowthalongtheBRI,andbringglorytothePartybyachievingallofthesefouraimsanawaythatisideologicallyconsistentwiththecoretenetsofCommunistthought-usinglabortotransformreligiousminoritygroupstowardsapredominantlymaterialistworldview,akintotheReformThroughLabor(劳改)program.Governmentdocumentsoutlinethatthetransformationofruralpopulationsfromfarmingtowagelaborshouldinvolvenotjusttheacquisitionofnew


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skills,butalsoathoroughidentityandworldviewchangeinlinewithPartyideology.Inthiscontext,laborishailedasastrategicmeanstoeradicate"extremist"ideologies.Thedomesticandglobalimplicationsofthisgrandscheme,whereinternmentcampsformonlyonecomponentofasociety-widecoercivesocialre-engineeringstrategy,aredramatic.Throughthemutualpairingassistanceprogram,19citiesandprovincesfromthenation'smostdevelopedregionsarepouringbillionsofChineseYuan(RMB)intotheestablishmentoffactoriesinminorityregions.Someofthemdirectlyinvolvetheuseofinternmentcamplabor,whileothersareusedtomakeUyghurwomenleavetheirchildrenineducationalordaycarefacilitiesinordertoengageinfulltimefactorylabor.Soon,manyormostproductsmadeinChinathatrelyatleastinpartonlow-skilled,labor-intensivemanufacturing,couldcontainelementsofinvoluntaryethnicminoritylaborfromXinjiang.GovernmentdocumentsblatantlyboastaboutthefactthatthelaborsupplyfromthevastinternmentcampnetworkhasbeenattractingmanyChinesecompaniestosetupproductioninXinjiang,supportingtheeconomicgrowthgoalsoftheBRI.ThefindingspresentedbelowcallfornothinglessthanaglobalinvestigationofsupplychainsinvolvingChineseproductsorproductcomponents,andforagreatlyincreasedscrutinyoftradeflowsalongChina'sBeltandRoad.TheyalsowarrantastrongresponsefromtheinternationalcommunityinregardstoChina'sintrusivecoercedsocialre-engineeringpracticesamongTurkicminorities.2.WinningThe"WarAgainstPoverty":Industry-BasedPovertyAlleviation2.1Industry-BasedPovertyAlleviationThroughLabor-IntensiveManufacturingInlineofXiJinping'sgoaltoeradicatepovertyandestablishamoderatelyprosperoussociety(MPS)intheentirenationby2020,povertyalleviationhasbecomeanurgentgoalinXinjiang.Accordingtogovernmentdocuments,theregion's"waronpoverty"(literally:"fightforpoverty-alleviation",tuofugongjian脱贫攻坚)in2019hasreachedacrucialphase.Theurgentaimistoachievethecompleteeradicationofpovertyintimefor70thanniversaryofthefoundingofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.Inallthis,thecentralgovernmentisputtingspecialattentiontowinningthewaragainstpovertyinsouthernXinjiang.1Anotherreportstatesthatpovertyalleviationiscommensuratewitha"militarycommand",andthat"thesouthernfourregionsandprefecturesarethemainbattlefield"inthewaragainstpoverty. 2 Inthisrelentless"battle",everyadministrativelevelistoputpressureoneachsuccessivelowerlevelinorderto"implementthepovertyalleviationresponsibilitywithfullpressure".3 OtherpartsofChinaareimplementingverysimilarpovertyalleviationschemes,andpovertyalleviationthroughhigher-incomeworkisatfirstglanceapositivedevelopment.TheissueinXinjiangisthatthisschemeisspecificallytargetingpredominantlyMuslimethnicminoritiesonamassivescale,andiscoupledwithpenetratingsocialcontrol,apervasivesurveillancestate,anunprecedentedextrajudicial1http://www.xjrs.com.cn/zwgk/xwdt/xjyw/201903/t8a4ac70d69b93a1c0169be4c80b300c0.htmlorhttp://archive.is/MRBYL2http://f.china.com.cn/2018-02/07/content_50442241.htmorhttp://archive.is/oVSbm3https://new.qq.com/omn/20190228/20190228A01BNW00


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internmentcampaign,andadeepersocialre-engineeringintentiononthesideofthestatethateffectivelyamountstotargetedculturalgenocide.Povertyalleviationcomesindifferentforms,attimesthroughimprovedfarming.ButthemainkeyfocusinXinjiang'sethnicminorityregionshasrecentlyshiftedtoso-called"industry-basedpovertyalleviation"(chanyefupin产业扶贫).4Sincethepastfewyears,thishasbeeninvolvingasystematictrainingofso-calledruralsurpluslaborersinordertoplacetheminlow-skilledfactorywork.Mostrecently,thishasinvolvedthelarge-scaleconstructionofso-called"povertyalleviationworkshops"(fupinchejian扶贫车间),whicharesmaller-scale"satellitefactories"(weixinggongchang卫星工厂).Themainpurposeofsatellitefactoriesistomoveasmanyruraldwellersintofactory-basedwagelaborby"sendingworktohomes"(gangweisongdaojia岗位送到家)and"lettingvillagerstakeupjobsattheirhome'sdoorstep"(rangcunminjiamenkoujiuye让村民家⻔⼝就业).5 Atleastsince2018,Xinjiang'sprimarypovertyalleviationandstabilitymaintenancemethodhasbeentopromotewagelaboramongallethnicminorityadults.Everyhouseholdmusthaveatleastonepersoninstableemployment,althoughnumerouslocallevelreportsindicatethatthetrendisverymuchtoalsopushwomenintofactorywork.6Between2016and2020,Xinjiangwasscheduledtolift2.61millionpersonsoutofpoverty.7Ofthese,1.74millionareconsideredabletoworkandareexpectedto"getoutofpoverty"throughdifferentformsoftrainingandemployment.Muchofthisnewstableemploymentistobeprovidedintheformoflabor-intensivemanufacturing.Theother0.87millionwillbetakencareofthroughsocialwelfaresystemsandrelatedsubsidies.AJune2017documentpublishedbyKashgarPrefectureprovidesuswithamoredetailedviewofhowthestateispursuingthepovertyalleviationofeverysingleperson.Between2015-20,thisregionalonewasscheduledtolift1.21mpeopleoutofpoverty.8Specifically,thiswasplannedbedonethroughfivedifferentmeans:1. Production development (povertyalleviationfor 529,000 persons) 2. Re-training rural surplus laborers for full-time wage employment (poverty

alleviationfor 217,000 persons) 3. Physical relocation to new housing developments with factory jobs (poverty

alleviationfor 54,900 persons) 4. Environmental protection programs (povertyalleviationfor 37,400 persons) 5. Policy measures, referring to subsidies in monetary form or animals (poverty

alleviationfor 371,600 persons) Povertyalleviationthroughjobtrainingandemploymentisfurtherbrokendownintosixdifferentcategories:91. MovelaborerstootherpartsofXinjiang(疆内跨地区转移就业)

4http://www.xinjiang.gov.cn/2018/11/09/152523.htmlorhttp://archive.is/YnQsw5http://www.xj-agri.gov.cn/tpgj/43407.jhtmlorhttp://archive.is/Q3rUz6http://www.xinjiang.gov.cn/2018/01/29/147312.htmlorhttp://archive.is/ri3CP7http://xj.people.com.cn/n2/2016/0109/c188521-27501414.html8http://www.xj.chinanews.com/shehui/20171018/24289.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/KVSDV9http://www.xinjiangnet.com.cn/2018/0120/2039961.shtml


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2. MovelaborerstootherpartsofChina(转移内地就业)3. MovelaborerstoXPCClocationsforwork(转移兵团就业)4. Movelaborersintourbanindustrialparks(就地就近转移城镇、企业、园区)5. Getlaborersintosatellitefactories(转移卫星工厂)6. Supportsmall-scaleself-employment(支持小微创业带动就业)Thestrategyformovingvastnumbersofruralminoritypopulationsintowagelaborispredicateduponlow-skilled,labor-intensiveindustriesthatonlyrequirealimitedamountofjobtraining.Inparticular,thiscentersaroundthemanufacturingoftextilesandgarments,electronicproductassembly,footwear,toys,furniture,specialtyhandicraft,andsimilarproducts.10Amongthese,textileandgarmentproductionarethemainfocus.By2023,Xinjiangwantstohave1millionworkersintextileandgarmentindustries,with650,000ofthemcomingfromthesouthernUyghurmajorityregions. 112.2Xinjiang'sFine-GrainedPovertyAlleviationScheme:ComprehensiveandEssentiallyInvoluntaryImportantly,governmentdocumentsoftendemandthatXinjiang'spoverty-alleviationeffortsmustbe"fine-grained"."Fine-grainedpovertyalleviation"(精准扶贫)meansthattheentireschemeisall-encompassingandinvolvesliterallyeverysinglecitizen.12Besidescontinuallyemphasizingthe"fine-grained"natureofallpovertyalleviationefforts,theyalsomustachieve"fullcoverage"(全盖)ineveryrespect.Theimplicationsofthisarefar-reaching,becausetheprimarygoalofCCP-stylepovertyalleviationissocialstability.AllminoritypersonsinXinjiangarethereforenowtobeincare,education,training,work,approved(improved)farming,oronstatesubsidies(unabletowork,elderly).Everyonemustbeinastate-designatedorstate-approvedplace.Farmersorpastoralistscanonlycontinuewiththeirtraditionallivelihoodmodewiththeconsentoftheirlocalgovernment.Thedefaultdestinationfortheambiguousruraldwellerswhohavetraditionallybeenengaginginamixofseasonallaborandseasonalfarmingisnowfull-timewagelabor,especiallylabor-intensivefactorywork.IthasbeensaidthatallofXinjianghasbecomeanopen-airprison,withthedifferenceofinternmentandnon-internmentbeingamatterofdegree.Itcanequallybesaidthattheentireregionhasbecomeasiteofinvoluntarylaborassignments:thelevelofcoercivenessofone'soccupationmayvary,butbeingoutsideagovernment-approvedworkcategory,orfailingtocomplywiththestate'sopinionofwhatyouinparticularshouldbedoing,isnolongeranoption.Specifically,Xinjiang's2019governmentworkplanmandatesthateveryonewhoiscapabletoworkmustbetrainedandemployed.13Poorhouseholdsorthosewithoutemploymentmusthaveatleastonepersoninstableemployment(贫困家庭每户至少一名劳动力学习掌握一门就业技能).However,theevidence10https://news.sina.cn/gn/2019-03-28/detail-ihsxncvh6251453.d.html?oid=5_yltx&vt=4&pos=3orhttp://archive.is/DvH1Y11http://www.xinjiang.gov.cn/2018/03/02/148047.htmlorhttp://archive.is/tSU1p12http://archive.is/G0Uii13http://www.xjfp.gov.cn/zzqyw/152889.jhtmlorhttp://archive.is/lrnz3


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presentedbelowclearlyindicatesthatthestateaimstoplaceallminorityadultsintofull-timelabor,includingwomen.Giventheintrusivenessofthisschemeanditspenetrationintotheinnerworkingsofeveryhousehold,noteveryonewillwanttobepartofthisrigidplan.Thegovernmenthasanticipatedthisandismakingthoughttransformationanimportantcomponentofthepovertyalleviationscheme.AccordingtotheCCP,winningthefightagainstpovertyrequiressolvingideologicalproblems.Notably,itissaidthattheattitudeofminoritycitizensmustbechangedfrom"Iamaskedtogetridofpoverty"to"Iwanttogetridofpoverty"(变“要我脱贫”为“我要脱贫).14Clearly,"industry-basedpovertyalleviation"isnotvoluntarybutmandatory.Thosewhoresistbeing"alleviated"fromtheir"poverty"aresubjectedtoideologicaleducationsothattheirthinkingalignswiththestate'sgoals.Afterall,placingpeopleintowagelaborisnotonlyandnotevenprimarilyaneconomicgoal.Rather,itisverymuchanideologicalgoal.Statediscoursesportrayfactorylaboras"modernlifestyle"thathasthepowerto"liberate"backwardsminoritypopulationsfromtheirtraditional(andreligious)lifestylesandmindsets.Resistancetopovertyalleviationandwagelaborisakintoresistancetomodernization,whichinturnisasignofextremism.Refusingtocooperativewiththisschemeislikelyreasonenoughtobesenttoare-educationfacility.Apertinentmediaarticleonstate-mandatedemploymentinXinjiangcitesalocalUyghurpersonassaying:"Ifthegovernmenttellsyoutogowork,yougo".152.3SummaryInsum,theauthorarguesthatBeijing'sgrandschemeofmandatoryeducationortrainingandsubsequentlaborundertheguiseof"povertyalleviation"achievesfivemajorgoals:1. Theethnicminoritypopulationisbeingmovedintoclosed,surveilledandstate-

controlledtrainingandworkenvironmentsthatfacilitateon-goingindoctrination.2. Thissetupeffectivelyinhibitstheintergenerationaltransmissionofculture,religion

andlanguagebyreducingjointfamilytimesandinsteaddrasticallyincreasingparents'andchildren'sexposuretostateteachingandtraining.

3. ItachieveXiJinping'snationalpovertyreductiongoalsthrough(supposedly)higherincomesfromwagelabor.

4. ItboostsXinjiang'stotalGDPandincomefigures,whichlegitimizestheCCP'spresenceinXinjiangandbringsglorytothecoreregionoftheBRI.

5. TheachievementofalloftheabovethroughlaborishighlyconsistentwithCCPideology.Laborisimputedwithatransformativepowerthattransforms"backward"minoritiesand"unproductive"religiousfigureswiththeirotherworldlyworldviewsandnon-materialist(i.e.spiritual)preoccupationsto"useful"membersofsociety.Economicgrowthnotonlypromotessocialstabilitybutalsoprovidesanideologicaljustificationofamaterialistworldview.Asaresult,thePartycanclaimthecreditfor

14https://www.xjawt.gov.cn/zwgk/zdxxqtzs/tpgjzxd/20190111/i133466.htmlorhttp://archive.is/G0Uii15https://www.wsj.com/articles/western-companies-get-tangled-in-chinas-muslim-clampdown-11558017472


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improvingeveryone'smaterialconditions,andrightfullydemand"gratefulness"andwholeheartedsupportfromallcitizens.

Poweredbydigitalinformationsystemsandfinancedbycentralgovernmentpovertyalleviationbudgets,theauthorbelievesthatthisschemerepresentsBeijing'slong-termsolutiontoestablishultimatesocialcontrolandin-depthgenerationalchangetowardsCCPideologyinthisrestiveregion.Asmenandwomenareherdedintofactorieswhiletheirchildrenaremovedinto(increasinglyfull-time)educationalfacilities,thedissolutionoftraditional,religiousandfamilylifeisonlyamatteroftime.3.ChineseTermsforVocationalTrainingInternmentCamps(VTICs)Below,Xinjiang's"VocationalSkillsEducationTrainingCenters"(职业技能教育培训中⼼)arereferredtoas"VocationalTrainingInternmentCamps"(VTICs).16Thisterminologyacknowledgesthatthesefacilitiesoffersomeformofvocationaltraining,althoughthis"training"onlyconstitutesarelativelysmallpartofthewholeindoctrinationpackage.Atthesametime,thisterminologyclarifiesthatthesefacilitiesfunctioninaprison-likeinternmentfashion.InChinese,VTICsareoftenabbreviatedas"EducationTrainingCenters"(教培中⼼).17ThesearetheonlytypesofextrajudicialformsofinternmentwhoseexistenceBeijinghasofficiallyacknowledged,althoughitarguesthattheyhavealegalbasis.InXinjiang,theabbreviatedform"EducationTrainingCenters"(教培中⼼)veryconsistentlyreferstothe"VocationalSkillsEducationTrainingCenters"(职业技能教育培训中⼼).Analternativespellingis"EducationTrainingCenters"withallcharactersspelledout(教育培训中⼼).Anothercommonuseistheterm"VocationalEducationTrainingCenter"(职业教育培训中⼼)whichleavesouttheword"skills".18Generally,VTICsinXinjiangcantypicallybedistinguishedfromothervocationalfacilitiesbytheending"center"(中⼼).Ifafacilityorinstitutionendswiththeword"school",asin"VocationalSkillsSchool"(职业技术学校),thenitistypicallynotaVTIC.Thisdistinctionisforexampleevidentfromadocumentthatliststhe"LopCountyVocationalSkillsSchool"nexttothe"EducationTrainingCenter"(洛浦县职业技术学校和教培中⼼).19However,theterm"EducationTrainingCenter"(教育培训中⼼)byitselfiscommonlyusedinXinjiangandelsewhereforothertypesoftraining,including

16Comparehttp://www.jpolrisk.com/brainwashing-police-guards-and-coercive-internment-evidence-from-chinese-government-documents-about-the-nature-and-extent-of-xinjiangs-vocational-training-internment-camps/17http://www.alt.gov.cn/zwxx/001002/20190321/7f49da54-0cb5-47ad-b486-d07bb4060a8a.htmlorhttp://archive.is/QPael.Comparehttp://www.scio.gov.cn/ztk/dtzt/39912/40016/40030/Document/1649854/1649854.htmorhttp://archive.is/b5j3L18http://www.akss.gov.cn/xjcms/front/s448/xxgk/20181123/i105526.htmlorhttp://archive.is/J2cDWYetanotherspellingis职业技能教培中心,e.g.inhttps://web.archive.org/web/20180813115300/http://www.kashi.gov.cn/Government/PublicInfoShow.aspx?ID=285119http://www.xjlpx.gov.cn/nzcms_nzweb/nzcms_up/attached/file/20190411/20190411130965606560.pdf


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teachertraining,cadretraining,orforprivatelearninginstitutions.ItcandenoteaVTIC,butthismustbeestablishedfromthecontext.4.FlowSchemesOverviewTheauthorhasidentifiedthreemajorflowschemesbywhichminoritycitizensinXinjiangareputthroughtrainingandsubsequentemployment.Flow1pertainstopersonsinVTICs.Theyare"released"intofullycoerciveformsoflabor.Flows2and3pertaintopersonsingeneralsocietyoutsidetheinternmentcampnetwork.Flow1:VTICinternment->forcedlaboratcampfactoriesornearbyindustrialparks->forcedlaboratlocalsatellitefactoriesinhomeregions(orotherindustrialsites)TheChineseflowterminologyforthisiscodedas:教育培训中⼼+发展纺织服装等劳动密集型产业试点(VTICplusdevelopingtextile,garmentetc.labor-intensiveindustrypilot[projects]) Alternativespellingsfor 教育培训中⼼+ are: 教培中⼼+, JP+or 职业技能培训中⼼ Theflowschemecanalsobecodedas教培中⼼+ 扶贫⻋间. Theworkersinthisflowarereferredtoas"trainees"(培训人员)or"personsinre-education"(教转人员).TheseVTIC"trainees"canendupinfactoriesonVTICcompounds,inindustrialparks(产业区)whichcanbelocatednearVTICs(orVTICsinthem),orruralorvillagesatellitefactories(卫星工厂).Theemployingcompanyalsoprovidesthetraining(despitethesupposed"vocational"traininginthecamps),andreceivesagovernmentsubsidyinexchange.VTICworkerswhoaretrainedmustalsobeemployed.Afteracertaintimeperiod,theymaythenbetransferredtotheirhomeregions,wheretheymaybeputtoworkinlocalsatellitefactories.Flow2:Ruralsurpluslaborers->centralizedtraining->employmentTheChineseflowterminologyforthisisoftencodedas: Trainaperson,sendoffaperson,employaperson,rescueahouseholdfrompoverty培训一人，输出一人；就业一人，脱贫一户 Alternativecoding:Unifiedsendingoff,unifiedclasses,enterprise,centralizedtraining,centralizedemployment统⼀输送、统⼀开班、企业冠名、集中授课、集中就业Flow3:Villageworkteams->establishsatellitefactoriesandchildcarefacilities->allwhocanworkareputintotrainingandwork(especiallywomen)


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TheChineseflowterminologyforthisiscodedas:Companyheadoffice(orcompanyorbase)->satellitefactory总部+卫星⼯⼚ or 企业+卫星⼯⼚ or 基地+卫星⼯⼚+贫困户 or 公司+卫星⼯⼚+农户 or ⻰头企业+卫星⼯⼚ Whileallthreeflowschemesoperateondifferentlevelsofcoercion,withflow1representingthehighestcoercionlevel,allofthemsharesignificantsimilarities.Theyallserveaprimarystabilitymaintenancegoalbyimplementing"de-extremification"andtransformingpeople'sminds.Allthreeconductthoughteducation,politicalindoctrination,andendupplacingminoritiesintocontrolled,full-timelaborenvironments.Theresultisgreaterstatecontrol,reducedfamilyinteractionandinfluence,andreducedintergenerationalcultural,linguisticandreligioustransmission.5.Flow1:VTICForcedLabor5.1OverviewofVTICLaborPoliciesVTICforcedlaborisnotprimarilyabouteconomicgainorgrowth,buthasstabilitymaintenanceasitscorefocus.InadocumentissuedbytheXUARDevelopmentandReformCommission,theVTIC+laborintensivemanufacturingmodelisexplicitlylistedasakeycomponentofthestabilitymaintenanceinfrastructure,alongwithsocialmanagement,surveillancesystems,centralcontrolsystems,peacefulcitysystemsandnetworksecurity.20OtherdocumentslikewiseindicatethatVTIClaborprimarilyserves"governmentsocialstabilityneeds"(政府出于维稳的需求).21 EvidenceofthewidespreadimplementationofforcedlaborforVTIC"graduates"canbefoundatseveraladministrativelevels.TheprobablymostblatantadmissionthatVTIClaborhasincreasinglybecomeamajoreconomicdriverfortheentireregioncomesfromaDecember2018statementissuedbytheXinjiangDevelopmentandReformCommissionontheregion'seconomicstate.Toquote:

WithVTICsasthecarrier,[Xinjiang]hasattractedalargenumberofcoastalenterprisesfromthemainlandtoinvestandbuildfactories,whichhaspowerfullyexpandedemploymentandpromotedincreasedincomes.22

Thisstatementisapt,becauseXinjianghasimplementedextensivepromotionalpoliciestoattractcompaniesfromotherpartsofChinatobecomeinvolvedinVTIC-relatedmanufacturing.Numerousdocumentsindicatethattheestablishmentofcomprehensive,

20http://www.xjdrc.gov.cn/info/11460/22308.htmorhttp://archive.is/HpXVV21https://web.archive.org/web/20190524105429/https://www.trjcn.com/topic/index/22227.html22https://web.archive.org/web/20190520143306/http://www.xjdrc.gov.cn/info/9923/23516.htmorhttp://archive.is/iykV0.Alternativesite:http://220.171.42.19/info/9923/23516.htmorhttp://archive.is/hkNdY


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labor-intensivemanufacturingsitesinXinjiangisintendedtoboosttheeconomicdynamicsbehindtheBRI.23Forexample,anApril2018noticeonpromotingthetextileandgarmentindustryfeaturesitsownpolicysectionon"promotingVTICplusdevelopingtextileandgarmentmanufacturing".24Thissectionstatesthattheconstructionof"VTICplus"productionfactoriesistobesupported.ThekeyUyghurmajoritypopulationregionsofKashgar,HotanandKisilzuPrefectures,alongwithKalpingandWushenCountiesinAksuPrefecture,aretosupportthe"VTICplus"developmentoflabor-intensiveindustries.Specifically,localgovernmentsaremandatedtoinvestintheconstructionoflabor-intensivemanufacturingnearVTICsbygrantingappropriatesubsidies.Morespecificgovernmentimplementationdocumentsleavenodoubtthatthisforcedlaborschemeexplicitlypertainsto"personsinre-education".Inorderto"thoroughlyimplement"theabove-mentionednoticefromApri2018,theprefecture(heretheIliKazakhAutonomousPrefecture)promotestheYiliPrefecture-JiangsuProvinceTextileandGarmentIndustrialParkasthebasefortheVTICplusmodel,withtheaimtoprovideemploymenttothese"personsinre-education"(教转⼈员)25.AnotherYiliPrefecturereportusessimilarterminologywithhighlyincriminatingpotential,referringtoasystematicemploymentprovisionfor"VTICpersons"(教培人员).26Inthesamevein,areportbyMaXiongcheng,thevicechairmanofXinjiang'sPoliticalConsultativeConference(⾃治区政协副主席)notonlyconfirmsthatputtingVTICdetaineestoworkinfactoriesisaXinjiang-widepolicy,butalsothatthisstrategyexplicitlyfulfillspoliticalre-educationgoals:

Alllocalregionsaretofocusontheoverallgoalofsocialstabilityandlong-termenduringpeace,andthroughthedevelopmentofcharacteristicindustries,theestablishmentofsatellitefactories...increasefarmers'incomesandpromotepovertyalleviation.Inparticular,satellitefactoriesaretobebuiltinthevocationalskillseducationtrainingcenters,sothatpeopleaffectedbyterrorismandextremethoughtscanlearnthenation'scommonlanguage,studylaw,andunderstandtherightandwrong.Theycanalsolearnskills,becomeabletowork,andincreasetheirincomes.Allthesebringhope,especiallytopoorfamilies.27(emphasisadded)

23Forexamplehttp://xj.people.com.cn/n2/2019/0401/c186332-32798969.htmlorhttp://archive.is/6WhOU.24https://www.hts.gov.cn/weininfuwu/show.php?itemid=601orhttp://archive.is/ZBsk8orhttps://web.archive.org/web/2018*/https://www.hts.gov.cn/weininfuwu/show.php?itemid=601.Locallevelmention,e.g.IliPrefecture:http://www.xjyl.gov.cn/info/1103/139006.htmorhttp://archive.is/VmDrY,alsohttps://web.archive.org/web/20190608163247/http://wap.xjyl.gov.cn/info/1086/46306.htm25https://www.hts.gov.cn/weininfuwu/show.php?itemid=601orhttp://archive.is/ZBsk8orhttps://web.archive.org/web/2018*/https://www.hts.gov.cn/weininfuwu/show.php?itemid=601.Locallevelmention,e.g.IliPrefecture:http://www.xjyl.gov.cn/info/1103/139006.htmorhttp://archive.is/VmDrY.Also:http://archive.is/ZboFc,http://www.xjyl.gov.cn/info/egovinfo/1001/xxgk_content/BB005-07_B/2018-1220001.htmorhttp://archive.is/qT25W.26http://www.xjyl.gov.cn/info/egovinfo/1001/xxgk_content/BB005-07_B/2018-1220001.htmorhttp://archive.is/qT25W.27http://www.xj-agri.gov.cn/fslj/43124.jhtmlorhttp://archive.is/tn41Eor


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Similarly,aKarakax(Moyu)County(HotanPrefecture)governmentdirectiveregardingthepromotionofVTICplusschemesemphasizeshowthisschemebothseekstofocusonre-education(thoughttransformation)andemploymentpromotionamongVTICdetainees:

Strengtheningvocationalskillseducationtraining,focusingonthoughttransformation....Continuetoexpandthe"VTICplus"model,getmore[VTIC]traineestotakeupemployment.28

Severalothergovernmentdocumentsoutlinetheprecisesubsidiesawardedtocompaniesthatparticipateinthe"VTICplus"modelandtrainandemployVTICdetainees.Besidesa5,000RMBsubsidygivenover3years,companiesthatemploy"personsinre-education"(教转⼈员)inlabor-intensiveindustriescangetashippingcostsubsidyequivalentto4percentoftheirsalesvolume,andreceivea1,800RMBsubsidyforeachre-educationworkerfortrainingthemintherelevantskill.29Consequently,thisandnumerousotherdocumentsclearlyindicatethatthesupposed"vocationaltraining"implementedintheVTICsdoesnotatallsufficetopreparethedetaineesforfutureemployment.Rather,theactuallyneededskillstrainingisconductedbytheparticipatingcompanies,whichisthereasonwhythegovernmentoffersthemfinancialcompensationfordoingso.Xinjiang'sminorityregionsnotonlygrantspecialsubsidiestocompaniesthatemployVTICdetainees,buttoanyfirmsthatsetuplabor-intensiveindustriesinruralminoritysettings,providedthattheymeetminimumrequirements.AgovernmentnoticeissuedbyKarakax(Moyu)Countystatesthatcompaniesthatemployover100workersforatleastoneyearandachieveaworkertoworkshopfloorspaceratioofatleast1workerper10sqmareeligibletoreceivesubsidies.30Interestingly,forthosewhoparticipateinthe"VTICplus"schemeandemployVTICdetainees,theminimumemploymentrequirementisreducedbyhalf(50workers).In2018,KashgarPrefecturealoneintendedtoput100,000VTICgraduatestolaborinindustrialparks.31Withinthatquota,Kashgar'stextileandgarmentmanufacturing,withproductionbasedinindustrialparks,wasscheduledtoemploy50,000VTICdetainees,

https://web.archive.org/save/http://www.xj-agri.gov.cn/fslj/43124.jhtmlAlso:http://www.xjdaily.com.cn/c/2018-11-28/2054842.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/VxCjW28https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2019-02-14/doc-ihqfskcp5114821.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/BRPa029https://web.archive.org/web/20190706211233/https://www.hts.gov.cn/file/upload/201806/06/184226546.doc.Downloadpagethatalsocontainsthesequotes:https://www.hts.gov.cn/weininfuwu/show.php?itemid=601orhttp://archive.is/ZBsk8.Seealsohttp://www.xjyl.gov.cn/info/1103/139006.htmorhttp://archive.is/VmDrY,orhttp://finance.sina.com.cn/money/future/agri/2018-04-09/doc-ifyuwqez7329788.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/0OmCy,orhttps://web.archive.org/web/20190525124330/http://cms.dybcotton.com/archives/2827.ForsimilarsubsidiesforemployingVTICpersons,comparealsohttp://www.ps.gov.cn/publicity/zsyz/zszc/15347orhttp://archive.is/s3krW.30https://news.sina.cn/gn/2019-03-28/detail-ihsxncvh6251453.d.html?oid=5_yltx&vt=4&pos=3orhttp://archive.is/DvH1Y31https://web.archive.org/web/20181204024839/http://kashi.gov.cn/Government/PublicInfoShow.aspx?ID=2963


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whilerelatedsatellitefactoriesweretoemployedanother20,000.Foreachemployeddetainee,thefactoriesweretoreceivethestandard5,000RMBsubsidy,splitoverthreeyears.For2018,thesubsidyamountwas2,000RMB.The2018subsidiesfortextileandgarment-relatedVTIClaboralonewereexpectedtocosttheprefecture126millionRMB,whichwouldtranslatetotheemploymentof63,000trainees(justbelowthestated50,000plus20,000).Bycomparison,in2018theprefecturereceived666millionRMBinfoodsubsidiesforVTICdetainees,whichcouldbeenoughtofeedanywherebetween166,000and405,000VTICdetaineesthroughoutthatwholeyear.32Thisindicatesthatonlyselectdetaineesareplacedor"released"intoforcedlabor.33Insomeinstances,VTICsaredirectlylocatedwithinindustrialparks.Forexample,adocumentpertainingtotheLopCounty(HotanPrefecture)IndustrialParkstatesthatthepark'snorthcampushasavocationaltrainingcamp(教培中⼼),andtogetherwiththevocationaltrainingschoolthereare7,000personsinthesetwofacilities.34Overall,theparkhosts155companies.ThisalsomeansthatthesecompaniesverylikelyrecruitamixofVTICandnon-VTIClabor,representingdifferentlevelsofcoercionandinvoluntary-ness.5.2VTICForcedLaborCasesAparticularlypertinentexampleofforcedlaborcomesfromtheXinheCounty(AksuPrefecture)IndustrialPark.35InJune2018,anunnamedgarmentmakingcompanysetupatextilevocationaltrainingcampworkbase(服饰教培实训基地)intheparkinordertoprovidingemploymentfor500VTICtrainees.Allofthecompany'sworkersaresaidtobefromtheXinheCountyVTIC(新和县教培中心),andthegovernmentprovidespoliceforcesandspecialinstructorssothatthefactoryisrunina"semi-militarystylemanagement"fashion(半军事化管理).Thislatterfactishighlightedintheproject'sdescriptionasa"projectbenefit",likelybecauseitmightappeasethesecurityconcernsofenterprisesoverhavingtodealwithhundredsofinternmentcampdetainees. Byparticipatinginthis"stabilitymaintenance"project,theparticipatingcompanysecuressignificantfinancialbenefits.Itgetsfreeuseofthefactoryfortwoyears,andafterthatforhalfoftheregularmarketprice.Ofthetotalinvestmentof15millionRMB,thelocalgovernmentprovided10million.Thethreefactoriescomewithsecurityandguardequipment.Thegovernmentalsopaystheusual1,800RMBsubsidyperVTICworkerforthetrainingthattheygetatthefactory,anda5,000RMBsubsidyperemployedworker(splitoverthreeyears).

32Seehttp://www.jpolrisk.com/brainwashing-police-guards-and-coercive-internment-evidence-from-chinese-government-documents-about-the-nature-and-extent-of-xinjiangs-vocational-training-internment-camps/.WitnessaccountsnotethatVTICmealsareextremelylowinqualityandquantity.ThelowerestimateisbasedontheChinesemilitary’sfoodallowanceforordinarysoldiersof11RMBperpersonperday,assumingthatlocalregionsdonotfurnishanyadditionalfunds.Thehigherestimateassumesthatdetaineesareonaverypoordietbelowcommoncalorieintakerequirementsforadults,withadailyfoodallowanceof4.5RMB(suchas1.5RMBpermealwiththreedailymeals).33https://web.archive.org/web/20181204024839/http://kashi.gov.cn/Government/PublicInfoShow.aspx?ID=296334http://www.xjlpx.gov.cn/nzcms_nzweb/nzcms_up/attached/file/20190411/20190411130965606560.pdf(documentremovedbutavailablefromtheauthor)35https://web.archive.org/web/20190524105429/https://www.trjcn.com/topic/index/22227.html


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AsecondexampleofforcedVTIClaborcomesfromacompanyfromShenzhenthatpridesitselfofhaving"transferred3,000Uyghursfromthestoveto(textilemaking)themachine".36Thissloganreferstominoritywomenwhowouldtraditionallyberesponsibleforrunningtheirhouseholds.ThefounderofJinfuyuClothingCorporation(金富婕服装有限公司)spent16yearsintheXinjiangarmy.Inhisownwords,thisexperience"inthearmy'slargefurnace"madehimthemanwhoheistoday,andin2015heproudlyreturnedtoXinjiang.Hisfirmisaclassicmodelofamilitarycivilfusioncompany(军民融合典型企业)andconsideredamodelpovertyalleviationcompany.Overall,Jinfuyuhastrained6,000villagersin287villagesandestablished2satellitefactorieswith370workers.JinfuyuisalsoanexampleofhowmanufacturersbasedinXinjiangformstrategiclinkageswitheasternChinesecompaniesthatoftenleadtotheirproductseventuallybeingexportedabroad.JinfuyuhasformstrategictradepartnershipswithJiangsu'sGuotai(江苏国泰),Shanghai'sTiankun(上海天坤),andNanjing'sDaoyuimport/exportcompanies,makingita"keyenterpriseforXinjiang'stextileindustry".37 Athirdexample,isMeiliFashionCorporation(美丽奥服装有限公司),acompanyfromShenzhenthatisfeaturedinanarticletitled"getting2,000poorwomenfromthestovetothemachine".38Theworkersshownonphotosdepictingthecompany'sworkshopweartheexactsameuniformasayoungUyghurwomanwhoisfeaturedinaVTICpropagandavideo.39Inarticle,thecompany'schairwomanstatesthatsheispersonallywitnessing"theprocessofhowde-extremificationcausesworkerstobecomebornagain".TheChinesetermfor"bornagain"(重⽣)istheexactsameasintheChinesetranslationoftheBible,inthewell-knownpassageinthebookofJohn(3:7)whereJesussaystoNicodemus:"Youmustbebornagain".Theimplicationhereisthatre-educationandsubsequentfactorylaborisakintoaprocessofspiritualtransformationandsalvation,wherebytheminoritiesare"rescued"fromthebrinkofdisaster(religiousextremism)and"saved"throughtheCommunistParty'senlightenedre-educationprogram.Companieswhoparticipateinthegovernment's"salvation"processreceivenotonlysignificantsubsidiesbutalsosubstantialtaxsavings.AMeiliFashionCorporationspokespersonreportedthatthecompany'sfactoryinKashgarPrefectureenjoysathree-yeartaxexemption,anda50percenttaxdiscountforthethreeyearsafterthat.405.3VTICPlusSchemeFundingImportantly,government-sponsoredfactoriesthatutilizeVTIClaboraretypicallyfundedfrom"povertyalleviationanddevelopmentfunds"(扶贫发展资⾦),whichare

36http://www.360youtu.com/epaper/html/html/2018/10/24/02/02_44.htmlorhttp://archive.is/DhSOZ37http://www.xjfp.gov.cn/dzdt/148494.jhtmlorhttp://archive.is/w3wcL38http://archive.is/1qf0a Bornagainterminologyalsofoundhere:http://archive.is/XZclS 39https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2019_03_19_494248_3.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/eeurw40http://china.chinadaily.com.cn/2017-10/10/content_33085809.htm


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partofthecentralgovernment'sfinancialassistancetotheregion.In2018,Beijingprovided6.9billionRMBofsuchfundingtotheregion.41Forexample,theShuleCountygovernmentestablisheda19,920sqmfactoryintheShuleCountyIndustrialParkwith39.8millionRMBfromsuchfunds.Thiswasdoneinorderto"solvetheemploymentproblemofpoorVTIChouseholds".Theproject'sadministrationinvolvedvariousauthorities,includingtheEducationandtrainingBureau(教培中心)thatoverseastheVTICs,andthepovertyalleviationoffice.42Likewise,AktoCountyfundedtheconstructionofseven"povertyalleviationworkshops"(扶贫车间)throughthe"VTICplus"model(教培中⼼+),allfromthepovertyalleviationanddevelopmentfund.43Withacombined13,080sqmoffloorspace,theworkshopswereexpectedtoprovidejobsfor1,320persons,atatotalcostof26.2millionRMB.Similarly,PishanCounty's(HotanPrefecture)2019povertyalleviationprojectslistfeatureda"VTICstandardizedfactorypark"(⽪⼭县教培中⼼标准化⼚区).44ThisparkwastobeconstructeddirectlyontheVTICcompound,withtheEducationandTrainingBureau(教培局)beingtheproject'sadministrativeauthority.Theprojectwasbudgetedtoinvest46millionRMBfor16factorybuildingswithatotalof31,070sqmfloorspace.Itwasexpectedtoprovideemploymentfor1,560persons.5.4VTICForcedLabor:PossibleFinalDestinationsHowever,VTICfactoryworkisapparentlynotnecessarilythefinaldestinationforVTICdetainees.Rather,asstatedinonedocument,theyaresentbytheVTICintofactoriesinorderto"receivetraining"(进⾏实训),sothatafterwardstheyreturnhomeandworkinlocalvillagesatellitefactories.45OneofthemanypropagandapiecesontheHotanCountyVTICactuallygivesaspecificexampleforthisveryscenario(Figure1).46

41http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2017-12/03/content_5244214.htmorhttps://web.archive.org/web/20190606213945/http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2017-12/03/content_5244214.htm42https://web.archive.org/web/20190706211128/http://www.shule.gov.cn/UploadFiles/file/2018/9/201809171853453606.doc.SimilarinitiativesinShule:http://www.shule.gov.cn/ShowBulletin_Content281.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/kXSAc43https://web.archive.org/web/20190706211437/http://www.xjakt.gov.cn/wcm.files/upload/GKfpb/201807/20180731115332752.xls.Downloadpagehttp://www.xjakt.gov.cn/P/C/4537.htmorhttp://archive.is/CVCOr44https://web.archive.org/web/20190706211451/http://www.ps.gov.cn/Upload/main/InfoPublicity/PublicInformation/File/2018/12/25/201812252040577920.xlsx.Downloadpageperhapsunderhttp://www.ps.gov.cn/publicity/zdxx/hms/fptp45http://www.xjbs.com.cn/news/2018-11/09/cms2117045article.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/jMH13.Seealsohttps://www.wh-ford.com/1e67bb5/20181109A1XT2E00.htmlorhttp://archive.is/VjwNw46http://www.sohu.com/a/285740213_115479orhttp://archive.is/ReqCZsame:http://china.huanqiu.com/article/2018-12/13938755.html?agt=16361


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Figure1:AHotanCountyVTICdetaineenowworksinasatellitefactorynearherhomeregionSimilarly,a2018BayingolinPrefecturepovertyalleviationprojectoverviewshowsacooperationbetweenasatellitefactoryconstructionprojectextendingover6villagesandthelocalVTIC,andtherearenumeroussimilarexamplesfromotherregions.47Thisappearstobethemethodbywhichdetaineesareeventually"re-integratedintosociety".ForcedVTICfactorylaborcouldthereforebeatemporarymeanstothisend,althoughthereisnoguaranteethatthiswillalwaysbethecase.5.5VTIC(Flow1)LaborConclusionsThewiderimplicationofthecombinationofVTIClaborwithsatellitefactoriesisthateventually,manyormostVTICdetaineesendupinaplaceofcoercivelaboralongsideotherworkersthatdidnotgothroughtheregion'sextrajudicialinternmentsystem.Consequently,itwillsoonbecomeimpossibletoclearlydeterminewhetheralabor-intensivemanufacturingproductinXinjiangwillbemadewithlaborfromformerdetaineesornot.However,evennon-VTIClaborinvolvesdifferentdegreesofcoercion.InXinjiang'scurrentlyextremelysecuritizedsocialenvironment,thereisverylimited(ifany)spaceforvoluntarychoices.6.Flow2:TheCentralizedTrainingofRuralSurplusLaborersforWhatareMostLikelyInvoluntaryLaborAssignments6.1Flow2PolicyOverviewThegovernmenthasdetailedplansandquotasforthe"trainingforthepurposeofchangingemployment"(转移就业技能培训)of"poorhouseholdlabor"(贫困家庭劳动⼒).48Thistrainingmustfollowastandardizedschemethatincludes"gratefulnesstothepartyeducation",law,Chineselanguage,workdisciplineandmilitarydrills.All"ruralsurpluslaborers"(农村富余劳动⼒),meaningthosewhodonothavea"formal"orlong-termwagelaborcontractbutrelyonamixoffarmingandoddjobs,mustgothroughthistrainingbeforegettingemployment.49Companiescanimplementthistraining

47http://www.xjbz.gov.cn/UploadFiles/zx/2018/7/201807131844624960.xls48https://www.xuehua.us/2018/06/28/新疆自治区人社制定《南疆四地州深度困地区/orhttp://archive.is/zMi4A49http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2019-03/04/c_1124192022.htmor http://archive.is/kJuhG


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themselvesorelsehaveitimplementedbylocaltraininginstitutionssuchasvocationalschools.Overall,theprocessofXinjiang's"industry-basedpovertyalleviation"followsthisbasicflowschemethatalsoindicatesthehighlyschematicandessentiallyinvoluntarynatureofstate-mandatedpovertyalleviation(seefigures2to6foravisualimpressionofwhatthisoftenlookslikeinreality):

"Trainaperson,sendoffaperson,employaperson,rescueahouseholdfrompoverty"(培训一人，输出一人；就业一人，脱贫一户).50

6.2CentralizedTrainingContentsandContextAmoredetailedimplementationdocumentregardingthistypeofvocationalskillstrainingforthegeneralruralpopulationwaspublishedbyKashgarPrefecture.51Thedocumentstatesthatinordertoovercomeexistingproblemswithdiscipline,thinkingandperception,(Chinese)languagecommunicationabilitiesandemploymentskills,theprefecturewillorganizecentralizedtrainingthatincludesmilitarydiscipline,thoughteducation,skillstrainingandlanguagestudy.Themilitarytrainingphasemustlastatleastonemonth.Itincludessingingredsongsandisintendedtoincreasestheworkers'organizationaldisciplineandto"developstandardizedbehavior"(⾏为规范养成).Thoughteducation(思想教育),including"gratefulnesstothePartyeducation",isimplementedinordertostrengthenlaborers'resistanceagainstextremistreligiousthought.Overall,theskillstrainingistotakeplaceinthreephases:militarydrill,thoughteducation,andlastlyskillstraining,withChineselanguageteachingbeingimplementedthroughoutallofthem.Thissystemsharesmanysimilaritieswiththere-educationperformedinVTICs.

50http://www.china-cotton.org/app/html/2018/09/21/82620.htmlorhttp://archive.is/AZEAU51http://www.kashi.gov.cn/Item/38964.aspxorhttp://archive.is/Z0Mgg


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Figure2:RuralsurpluslaborersfromYuminCountyarebeingsenttotextilefactoryworkinShawanCountyafterhavinggonethroughcentralizedskillstraining.52

Figure3:RuralsurpluslaborersfromHotanarebeingtransferredtoworkinAlarCity,aHanChinesesettlement.5352http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2017-07-26/doc-ifyinryq6266783.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/lMR7U53http://www.zonglanxinwen.com/img/2dacba9bce0b6a1cfa6bdc0c0e3dbb8b5e4b9a5c.htmlorhttp://archive.is/NMt9U


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Specifically,adocumentoutliningthegovernment's5yearplanfor2016-2020forthetextileandgarmentindustryinAksuPrefecturestatesthatthisindustry'slaborneedsaretobemetbyputtinglaborersthroughcentralizedclassesandthencentralizedemployment,teachingthemlegalregulations,Chineselanguage,workdiscipline,militarydrillsandproductionsafety.54Inthisprocess,theirworkattitudeistobechangedfrom"Iamwantedtowork"to"Iwanttowork"(“要我干”转变为现在的“我要干”).Anotherdocumentdiscussestheestablishmentofcentralizedtrainingcenters(技能培训中心),capableofhousing1,200vocationaltrainingstudents,whoaretrained,fedandhoused(indormitories)inacentralizedandstandardizedfashion.55BoththecontextandtheterminologyofthisskillstrainingindicatesthatitismostlylikelynotpartoftheVTICorwiderinternmentcampnetwork.However,itisclearthatthegeneralsetupandinfrastructureofthistypeofgeneralskillstrainingforruralsurpluslaborersisnotallthatdifferentfromtheregion'sinternmentcampsystem.

54http://www.china-cotton.org/app/html/2018/11/09/83019.htmlorhttp://archive.is/LUw3I55http://wap.xjdaily.com/xjrb/20180831/114124.htmlorhttp://archive.is/8PjPS


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Figures 4 and 5: 442 rural surplus laborers from Kashgar and Hotan are sent off to work in an industrial park in Korla in a "centralized fashion".56

Figure6:RuralsurpluslaborersfromMoyuCountyaresentofftoindustriallaborina"centralized",unifiedfashion(统一输送).57

56http://www.lnyuebao.com/html/htmlnewstpxw2017-42511_30_07_883.htmlorhttp://archive.is/LFoFq,andhttps://images.app.goo.gl/Pya6fXPzcQb9rmrGA57http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2017-06-19/doc-ifyhfhrt4819308.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/tSCxr


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Ofsignificantinterestarealsotheactualworkingconditionsofthosewhoundergoruralsurpluslaborertraining.AreportaboutgraduatesfromsuchcentralizedtrainingsessionsinAksuPrefecture'stextilemanufacturingstatesthatthesenewly-bakedworkerseatandsleeponthefactorycompounds,andtheydosoforatleastseveralyears.1Itisunlikelythatmostorallofthemwouldwillinglychoosetobeseparatedfromtheircoresocialandfamilycirclesandtheircherishedculturalenvironments,evenifthenewjobswouldearnthemahigherincome.6.3Flow2CaseStudy:EagleTextileCompanyApertinentexampleoftheinvoluntarynatureandintensiveindoctrinationcomponentsoftheflow2schemecomesfrom"EagleTextileCompany"(雄鹰纺织公司),afirmthatwassetupin2017inYarkantCountyaspartoftheShanghaiXinjiangMutualPairingAssistancescheme(上海援疆).58In2018,thecompanysent122surplusrurallaborerstoQingdao(ShandongProvince)forjobtraining,whothenreturnedtoYarkandtoworkinthecompany'stextilefactory.Currently,thecompanyemploysmorethan400localUyghurs,including250fromespeciallypoorfamilies. Inorderto"ensurethenormaloperationoftheproductionline",EagleTextilestatesthatithasa“semi-military”management.Theemployeesarelivingandworkinginthefactoryandcangohomeforonedayweek.However,thecompanystatesthatthe"comprehensivelivingfacilities"inthefactorymeanthatmanyemployeestreatthefactory"astheirhome".Intheworkshops,"inspiringcorporateslogans"canbeseen"everywhere",andtheworkerscanhear"ChinesesongscarefullyselectedbyHongLongzhu,theheadofthecompany".Everymorning,allworkerscollectivelyparticipatein"morningexercises",andduringtherestday,theywillsupposedly"spontaneouslygathertolearnChinese".Mr.Longzhuproudlytoldhisinterviewerthatthoughttransformationispartandparceloftheemploymentprocess.Inhiswords,someemployeesstillhadamindsetonperenniallyrelyingongovernmentsubsidies:"theylackedtheenthusiasmforlaborandtheirawarenessofmakingmoneywasnotstrong."However,after"morethanayearofsubtleinfluence"andtheemploymenttraininginQingdao,Mr.Longzhuclaimsthat"themajorityofemployeesinthefactoryhaveunderstoodthattheymustusetheirhardworktocreateahappylife".6.4Flow2ConclusionsOverall,theauthorsuggeststhatXinjiang'semploymentschemeforruralsurpluslaborersoutsidetheinternmentsystemcontainsasignificantamountofinvoluntaryaspects.ItisunclearwhetherthisformofemploymentisinfactmuchmorevoluntarythanthatofVTICgraduates.Amajorconcernisthefactthatlaborfromflows1and2arebeingcombined,makingitvirtuallyimpossibletodistinguishlaborinvolvinghighercoercionfromthatpotentiallyinvolvinglesscoercion.Forexample,ShacheCounty(KashgarPrefecture)hasacooperationbetween8differenteducationalinstitutions,includingtheKashgarVTIC(喀

58https://wenhui.whb.cn/third/yidian/201808/17/208696.htmlorhttp://archive.is/QyoxD;http://www.xjdrc.gov.cn/info/11855/22360.htmorhttp://archive.is/tY4MR;http://archive.is/dxGJV.


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什教育培训中心)and4companiesorindustrialsites,includingtheKashgarShenzhenIndustrialPark(喀什深圳产业园).59RatherthankeepingVTICandnon-VTICworkersstrictlyseparate,theregion'sgoalcertainlyappearstoflexiblyintegratethem,especiallyoncetheseformerVTICdetaineesareconsideredsafetoworkinregularworkenvironmentswithoutextrapoliceprotection.Obviously,anyoftheseworkenvironmentswillstillfeaturetheusualsurveillanceandsecuritizationfeaturesthatareincreasinglyfoundinanyfacilityinXinjiang.Thisincludescamerasystems,securityguardsandotherpreventativemeasures.7.Flow3:PromotingUniversalFactoryLaborThroughVillage-BasedSatelliteFactories7.1Flow3PolicyOverviewTheprobablymostintrusivesocialre-engineeringofUyghurandotherTurkicminoritysocietiesinXinjiangisachievedbywhatiscalled"sendingworktopeople'sdoorstep"(送⼯作到家⻔⼝).Theseso-calledsatellitefactoriesmay,inthelongterm,havethemostpervasiveanddestructiveimpactonUyghursociety.Thedegreeofinvoluntarinessofthisformoflaboristhemostcomplex.Ontheonehand,villageworkteams"encourage"womentoenterfull-timefactoryworkthroughvariousmeans,includingchangingtheir"thinking".Thisarguablyrepresentsaformofinvoluntarylabor,butdirectevidenceofcoercion,suchasbasedonformalizedorcentralizedtrainings,isweakerthanforflows1or2.However,thesatellitefactoryschemeisattimescloselylinkedtoVTIClabor(flow1).BothXinhuaandthegovernmentwebsiteChinapeacebluntlystatethatKashgarandHotanPrefectureshaveestablishedpreferentialpoliciesdesignedtoattracttheconstructionofsatellitefactoriesinorderto"helpVTICgraduatesfindemployment".60Asstatedaboveunder"flow1",itappearsthatsatellitefactoriesareoneofthepossiblefinaldestinationsofVTICdetaineesinorderto"re-integrate"themintosociety.Directevidenceofthelocalimplementationofthispolicycomesfromdetailedpovertyalleviationplanningspreadsheets.LuntaiCounty's(BayingolinPrefecture)2018povertyalleviationplanbudgetedfortheconstructionoftwosatellitefactoriestoprovideemploymentfor69households.61ThisprojectwastobeimplementedindirectcooperationwiththecountyVTICemploymenttrainingbasesatellitefactory(县职业技能教育培训中心实训基地卫星工厂).AccordingtoagovernmentdocumentthatoriginatedfromtheUnitedFrontwebsite,"fine-grainedpovertyalleviation"inXinjianginvolvestheconstructionofonesatellite

59http://www.93.gov.cn/html/93gov/bsjs/ldcy14/zhuxi/shfzx/hd/181031146809717435.htmlorhttp://archive.is/grr5R60http://www.chinapeace.gov.cn/chinapeace/c53712/2018-11/08/content_11623298.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/pL34J;http://www.xj.xinhuanet.com/2018-11/06/c_1123670018.htmorhttp://archive.is/g25xT61http://www.xjbz.gov.cn/UploadFiles/zx/2018/7/201807131844624960.xls


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factoryforeverytwovillages.62By2020,KashgarPrefectureplanstonearlydoublethenumberofitssatellitefactoriesfrom490to792,coveringatleast70percentofimpoverishedvillagesandcreatingjobsforover60,000poorhouseholds.63Similarly,LopCountyinHotanPrefectureexpectedtoincreasesatellitefactoryemploymentfrom2,630inmid-2018to20,000in2020.64Thescalabilityofthesemassiveundertakingsisensuredthroughhighlystandardizedfactorydesignsandunifiedmanagementprocedures.SimilartotheVTICplusmodel,companiesfromotherpartsofChinareceiveagovernmentsubsidyforeachsatellitefactoryworkertheytrain.WhilethetrainingofaVTICdetaineeonlyyields1,800RMB,companiesreceive2,400RMBpertrainedsatellitefactoryworker.657.2SatelliteFactoriesasSpearheadsofSocio-CulturalTransformationsSpecifically,thesatellitefactorydriveisdesignedtobringworkopportunitiestothosewhoaretypicallyunabletoleavethevillageinordertotakeupnon-ruralornon-farmingjobs.Thisparticularlyappliestowomenresponsibleforcaringforchildrenandelderlyfamilymembers.Numerousgovernmentdocumentstestifytothisfactandindicatethatthiscampaigninvolvesagreatdealof"thoughttransformation"inordertoconvincewomentoparticipate.Forexample:

"Wemustmakeoveralleffortstopromotestabilityandpovertyalleviation,sothatfarmerscanbefreedfromtheirsmallamountofland,andgointosatellitefactoriesandenterprisesforemployment.Wemusttakecareofthe"emptynest"oldpeople,leveragetheroleofnurseryschoolsandkindergartenstosolvetheworriesoftheemployedpeople....Strengthennationallanguageeducationandskillstraining,organizepoorhouseholdstovisitandstudy,andenablethemtobroadentheirhorizons,changetheirconcepts,andstimulatetheirinnermotivation. 66

Anotherdocumentsimilarlyboastshowsatellitefactoriesliberatewomenandcombatextremismatthesametime,leadingUyghurwomenintoanacceptanceof"modernculture",

"Theconstructionofsatellitefactoriesenablesmanywomentoacceptamodernenterpriseculture,toobeythecompanymanagement,[causingthemtochangefrom]passivitytoactiveacceptance.Wearingworkclotheshasbecomeanormalbehaviorforindustrialworkers.Thisisatthesametimelooseningthegripofextremism,lettingwomenwalkoutofthecourtyard[i.e.traditional

62http://www.zytzb.gov.cn/tzb2010/jjsh/201711/7ced55a64689491e8fbec3e06202ee47.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/OHqVo,orhttp://www.xinhuanet.com//politics/2017-11/16/c_1121966500.htmorhttp://archive.is/Nl2Ql.63http://www.xjbs.com.cn/zphd/2018-04/22/cms2068223article.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/zbGU664http://archive.is/odF31andhttp://archive.is/S4jwQ65http://www.ps.gov.cn/publicity/zsyz/zszc/15347orhttp://archive.is/s3krW,https://news.sina.cn/gn/2019-03-28/detail-ihsxncvh6251453.d.html?oid=5_yltx&vt=4&pos=3orhttp://archive.is/DvH1Y66http://www.sohu.com/a/293256189_120066835orhttp://archive.fo/40L2H


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householdduties]andintegrateintomoderneconomicandsociallife".67

Numerousotherdocumentstalkabouttheneedto"transformthethinkingofwomen,letmoreofthemleavethehome,enterfactories,increaseincomes."68Notably,thesatellitefactoriesimplementverysimilartrainingcontentsastheVTICsandflow2trainingfacilities.Guangzhou'spairingassistanceteamsestablishedfivetypesofactivitiesfortheworkersofthevillagesatellitefactory:gratefulnesstotheparty,nationallanguagestudy,skillstraining,studyingthelaw,and"promotenewstyles".69AreportpublishedbyXinjiang'sagriculturaldepartmentbluntlyarguesthatthesatellitefactorydrivespearheadsamajorruraltransformationeffortthroughwhich"thinkingexperiencesmajortransformations,andtraditionalcustomsarebeingsecularized".707.3SatelliteFactoriesPromoteIntergenerationalSeparationNaturally,manywomenwillnotsuddenlywanttoputtheirlittlechildreninstate-rundaycareortheirelderlyonesincentralizedelderlycare.Consequently,governmentreportsaboundwiththe"successstories"ofvillageworkteams,whoceaselesslyvisitresistantfamiliesuntilthey"agree"towork.Often,thisissaidtorequireto"transformthethinkingof[theelderly]parents"untilthey"agree"tolettheirdaughtergotowork.71Oncepeopleareputtowork,theyhaveenteredstate-controlledenvironmentsthatmayfeaturedifferentdegreesofsecurity.GovernmentprocurementbidsforruralsatellitefactoriesinUyghurmajorityregionsincludesecurityfences,surveillancesystemsandmetaldetectors.72Theperhapsmostdisturbingaspectof"povertyalleviation"throughruralsatellitefactoriesisthatitpromotesasignificantdegreeofseparationofchildrenfromtheirparents-atleastduringtheworkdays.Theestablishmentofsatellitefactoriesinvariablyinvolvestheconstructionofdedicatednurseriesforchildrenbelowthepreschoolage,ofteninthefactoriesthemselves.Forexample,areportaboutLopCountystatesthataparticularvillage'ssatellitefactoriesallhavenurseriesforchildrenaged0to4yearswherechildren"eatandlive",sothatthewomencan"workwithouthavingtoworry".73Similarreportsarefoundformanyotherminorityregions. Thesenurseries,attimesevenreferredtoas"infantcare"(婴幼⼉管护),appeartoplayakeyroleforpromotingwomentotakeupfactorywork.74

67http://wemedia.ifeng.com/39039076/wemedia.shtml?_cpb_xinxiliu_xgtjorhttp://archive.is/8niUT68https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2019-02-14/doc-ihqfskcp5114821.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/BRPa069http://www.gdzgd.cn/?tbl=zgd_t6&cle=1529914941orhttp://archive.is/26Os5;compare70http://www.xj-agri.gov.cn/fslj/43124.jhtmlor http://archive.is/tn41E71http://www.xjdrc.gov.cn/info/11388/22911.htmorhttp://archive.is/wzySf72http://www.bidchance.com/info.do?channel=calgg&id=22025779andhttp://archive.is/sytGt73http://www.sohu.com/a/251046802_100253950orhttp://archive.is/odF31.On2020statsseealsohttps://www.xjht.gov.cn/article/show.php?itemid=264420orhttp://archive.is/S4jwQorhttps://web.archive.org/web/20180302231400/https://www.xjht.gov.cn/article/show.php?itemid=264420.Overall,comparealsohttps://news.sina.cn/gn/2018-09-03/detail-ihiixyeu2690522.d.htmlorhttp://archive.is/b8WNG74http://www.xjzp.gov.cn/Files/2018/1223/%E5%96%80%E4%BB%80%E5%9C%B0%E5%8C%BA%E6


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Onecountyevenreferstothisschemeasthe"nurseriesplussatellitefactorymodel"(“幼⼉托管+卫星⼯⼚”模式). 75Thelocalvillageworkteamdiscoveredthatthevillagehas113womenwithchildrenwhoaretooyoungtoattendpreschool.Accordingtothereport,thesewomenaretherefore"boundtothehomes"andcannotgoouttowork.Thesolutionwastheestablishmentoffactorynurseries,whichinthisparticularcaseacceptchildrenfromage1yearsandup.Ashockingexamplesofthis"liberation"ofwomenfromtheirchildrenandhomescomesfromavillagethatundertheadministrationofHotanCity.There,onefamilyhasamotherwiththreeyoungchildren,theyoungestbeingonly13monthsold,andafatherwhoisalreadyawayduetoworkingoutsidethevillage. 76Thereportstatesthatbecausethevillagefactoryhasanursery,shecannowgotowork.Thereportcitesthemotherassaying:"[This]solvedmyproblem,nowtherearepeoplewhotakecareofmychildren,Icaninpeacegotowork,...veryconvenient."(Figure7).However,whatisbeingpraisedasprogressanddevelopmentisarguablyanexampleofincreasingfamilyseparation,intrusivesocialcontrol,andmorethanlikelysomeformofinvoluntarylabor.

Figure7.Thesmallchildren(toddlers)ofamotherofthreearebeingkeptinanurserywhilethemotherisbeingputtoworkinavillagesatellitefactory.8.FundingFromXinjiang'sMutualPairingAssistanceScheme(对⼝援疆)ParticularlyproblematicisthefactthatmuchofthefundingforVTICfactories,industrialparkswhereVTICandnon-VTICpersonswork,andmanyofthenewsatellitefactories,isdisbursedthroughthemutualpairingassistancescheme. 77EasternChinesecitiesandprovincesareincentivizingtheirlocalcorporationstoparticipateinXinjiang'slow-skilled,labor-intensivemanufacturingdrive,andindoingsotofurthertheirpatrioticdutytopromoteChina'sBRI.Governmentfiguresshowthatin2018,thetotalpairing

%B3%BD%E6%99%AE%E5%8E%BF2018%E5%B9%B4%E2%80%942020%E5%B9%B4%E8%84%B1%E8%B4%AB%E6%94%BB%E5%9D%9A%E9%A1%B9%E7%9B%AE%E5%BA%93.xls75http://archive.fo/1X5pU76https://www.xjht.gov.cn/article/show.php?itemid=276088orhttp://archive.is/hgonh77http://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2017-07-12/doc-ifyiaewh8895432.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/bWVQv


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assistanceinvestmentintoXinjiangamountedto16billionRMB.78In2017,thisinvestmentstoodat15.2billionRMBandcreatedjobsfor500,000surpluslaborers.79Bothofthesefiguresrepresentedamarkedincreasefromthe9.7billionRMBinvestedthroughthepairingassistanceschemein2016.80Forexample,Shanghai'spairingassistancefundingfundedtheconstructionof382satellitefactoriesinfourminoritycounties,involving237companiesand12,800newjobs(in2018).81Inanumberofinstances,mutualpairingassistancemoneysdirectlypromoteforcedlabor.AXinjianggovernmentreportdescribingtheGuangdongPairingAssistanceProject(广东省援疆项目)notedthatGuangdongProvinceinvested1.85billionRMBinXinjiangin2018.82Thereportstatesthatbecausetherearemany"VTICpersonsinre-education"(教培转化人员)whoneedemployment,theGuangdongcompanieswhoparticipateinthepairingassistanceprojectwithXinjiangwillestablishsatellitefactoriesintheVTIC,sothatmorestudentstherecanbecomeself-sufficient.Theplanistoprovide3,000ofsuchjobs.AmorespecificexampleofhowtheXinjiangmutualpairingassistanceprogramdirectlysupportsforceddetaineelaborundertheguiseof"povertyalleviation"and"development"comesfromacompanyfromZhejiangProvince,calledZhejiangZhujiKeshang(浙江诸暨客商).Thiscompanyinvested180millionRMBtoestablishtheXinjiangHengruiTextileCompany(天⼭恒瑞纺织有限公司)withanannualproductioncapacityof6millionsweaters.Itadoptedthe"industrialparkplusVTICplussatellitefactorymodel",constructingtwostandardizedfactorieswithacombinedfloorspaceof12,000sqmthatprovideworkfor1,100persons.FromJanuarytoMay2018,Zhejiangmutualpairingassistanceprojectsinvolvedatotalinvestmentof959millionRMBandestablished148factories.83Another,similarexamplesistheJinfuyuangarmentfactory(⾦福源纺织⼚)inKashgar'sTashkorganCounty.SetupbyacompanyfromShenzhenthroughthemutualpairingassistancescheme,itcanproduceoveramillionitemsofclothingperyear,whichareexportedtoEurope.84ThisfactoryisshowcasedonagovernmentwebsitethatpraisesthebenefitsofVTICsforde-extremificationandcombatingterrorism.Evenifnotalloftheseinitiativesfollowedthe"VTICplus"modelandinvolveVTICdetaineefactorylabor,itisevidentthatthese19citiesandprovincesarespendingbillionsofRMBinordertofacilitatedifferentformsofcoercedlaborthroughoutXinjiang'sTurkicminorityregions.78https://web.archive.org/save/http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-01/14/content_5357805.htm79https://web.archive.org/web/20190711210826/http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2018-01/24/content_5260106.htm80https://web.archive.org/web/20190711211038/http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2016-09/28/content_5113051.htm81http://www.xjdrc.gov.cn/info/11855/23816.htmorhttp://archive.is/UHfVP82www.xjdrc.gov.cn/info/11855/22388.htm(pagealreadyremoved)83http://yj.chinadevelopment.com.cn/toutiao/2018/07/1301768.shtmlorhttp://archive.is/8Df5Z.RelatedbutdoesnotmentionVTIC:http://xj.sina.com.cn/news/b/2019-04-01/detail-ihtxyzsm2288194.shtml84https://www.ws.gov.cn/xwdt/bddt/20190119/i293954.htmlorhttp://archive.is/heMys


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9.Conclusion:EthicalImplicationsforGlobalSupplyChainsXinjiang'smulti-layeredschemesofforcedoratleastinvoluntarylabor,andtheincreasingblendingofVTICandnon-VTIClabor,havemajorimplicationsforglobalsupplychains.XinjiangisthedesignatedcoreregionoftheBRI,withambitiousfutureproductiontargetsfortextileandgarmentproduction,alongwithotherlabor-intensivemanufacturingproducts.Throughsubstantialsubsidies,thegovernmentisattractingmajorcompaniestoestablishfactoriesintheregion.Often,thistakesplacesthroughthepairingassistancescheme,wherebymajoreasternprovincessuchasGuangdong,Fujian,Jiangsuetc.encouragetheircorporationstoestablishbranchesinXinjiang.ThiscreatescloselinkagesbetweenproductsmadewithXinjiang'sforced(oratleastinvoluntary)labor,andtheentiredomesticChinesemarket.Asaresult,itisincreasinglylikelythatproductsfromXinjiangwillendupnotonlyindomesticChinesebutalsoinglobalsupplychains.Beforelong,itwillbeuptoChinesecompanies,andtoChinaasawholenation,toprovetoothercountriesthattheirexportedproductsdonotinvolveanyformofcoercedethnicminoritylabor.UntilXinjiang'sextrajudicialinternmentcampnetworkandrelatedfactoriesarenotfullyshutdown,andallformsofskillstrainingandrelatedemploymentintheregionaremadecompletelyvoluntary,thiswillbedifficultorimpossibletoprove.