US State Department Archives

China vows retaliation against US sanctions over Xinjiang

Jul 10, 2020

China said Friday it will retaliate against U.S. officials and institutions following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on three local officials of the ruling Communist Party over human rights abuses in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

By Associated Press

US sanctions Chinese officials over repression of minorities

Jul 10, 2020

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on three senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party, including a member of the ruling Politburo, for alleged human rights abuses targeting ethnic and religious minorities that China has detained in the western part of the country.

By Deb Riechmann

Report marks 20th year of U.S. efforts to address trafficking worldwide

Jul 3, 2020

Government-sponsored trafficking is “a perversion of any government’s reason for existence,” which is “to protect rights, not crush them,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during the release of the 20th annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

By Ian Alvano

Africans memorialize George Floyd, say ‘Enough is enough’

Jun 13, 2020

The May 25 killing of African American George Floyd continues to receive condemnation from African governments and citizens, with some describing the killing of an unarmed black man as an unjust murder.

By Damian Avevor

State Department report: China among worst offenders of religious freedom

Jun 12, 2020

Top U.S. State Department officials singled out China as one of the world’s worst offenders of religious freedom because it had subjected religious minorities to imprisonment and forced labor.

By Catholic News Service

Diplomat recalls friendship with Hungarian cardinal who’s up for sainthood

May 25, 2020

Those who stood in defense of human dignity, justice and charity against the violence and totalitarianism of the 20th century often paid with their lives. Hungarian Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty, by the grace of God, did not.

By Jodi Marlin