Canada’s legislature has passed a motion designating China’s actions against its Uighur Muslim minority as genocide, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to toughen his approach to Beijing.
Lawmakers approved a declaration Monday afternoon recognizing "that a genocide is currently being carried out by the People’s Republic of China.” Though nonbinding, the decision represents a clear signal from lawmakers they want Trudeau to maintain pressure on China over human rights.
The move will further strain relations between the two countries, already at their lowest point since diplomatic ties were established in 1970. Tensions have grown since the 2018 arrest of a top Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. executive in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition request. Chinese authorities subsequently jailed two Canadians on national security charges.