Chinese Interrogations of Uyghur Australians Visiting Xinjiang Raise Transnational Repression Concerns

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented a pattern of Chinese officials questioning Uyghur Australians who travel to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, pressuring them to provide details about activists, cultural organisations and language schools in Australia. The organization says the practice is part of a broader strategy of transnational repression that seeks to silence dissent and intimidate diaspora communities. ## Interrogations and Surveillance During Visits HRW interviewed eleven Uyghur citizens and permanent residents in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide who had recently returned from Xinjiang. Several respondents described being taken to government-designated hotels, required to submit daily itineraries and subjected to prolonged questioning by police. One interviewee recounted a seven-hour interrogation in which officials demanded the addresses and phone numbers of prominent Uyghur activists in Australia. When the visitor could not supply the information, officers urged him to monitor those activists upon his return and to photograph them at public events. Another participant said she was repeatedly asked about Uyghur language schools operating in Australia, reflecting Beijing’s aim to curtail cultural expression abroad. The interviewees also highlighted the heavy monitoring of their communications while in Xinjiang. Family members in the region reportedly could only speak with relatives overseas under strict official oversight, with calls and messages screened by authorities. Those who attempted to travel without prior approval faced the risk of detention or further punitive measures, prompting many to avoid future visits despite a visa-free programme introduced in 2024. ## Impact on Community Life and Family Ties The HRW report notes that the intimidation tactics have a chilling effect on the Uyghur diaspora in Australia. Fear of retaliation against relatives still in Xinjiang discourages community members from participating in public gatherings, supporting cultural institutions or engaging in advocacy work. Some interviewees expressed that they would no longer travel to Xinjiang, even under the more permissive visa scheme, because of concerns for their safety and that of their families. HRW also referenced a 2020 case in which the Australian government assisted a Uyghur family in reuniting after a prolonged separation, but indicated that many other families remain blocked from joining loved ones due to travel bans imposed by Chinese authorities. The organization argues that the ongoing pressure on diaspora members undermines fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, association, culture and family life. ## Calls for Government Action In response to the findings, HRW sent a summary of its research to both Chinese and Australian officials on August 7. The Chinese government has not replied, while Australia’s Department of Home Affairs issued a statement on August 14 affirming its concern over foreign interference and the importance of protecting the rights of residents. HRW urges Australia and other affected states to adopt concrete steps, including public condemnations, clear travel advisories, safe reporting mechanisms, criminal investigations where appropriate, and assistance for family reunification. The report also points to China’s new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which took effect in July and contains extraterritorial provisions that could be used to target overseas Uyghurs and other diaspora groups. HRW warns that such legislation may further legitise Beijing’s attempts to control dissent beyond its borders. Overall, the HRW investigation highlights how the Chinese government’s interrogation of Uyghur Australians during visits to Xinjiang serves as a tool of transnational repression, threatening the ability of diaspora members to maintain cultural ties and exercise basic freedoms in Australia.