Four Corners: July 15

This week on Four Corners Sophie McNeill reports on how China is effectively operating the world’s largest prison.

“People started to literally disappear, communities were being emptied of adult men and women.” China researcher

It’s a remote corner of the world, but what is taking place there is nothing short of breathtaking.

“My older brother, younger brothers and two younger sisters, five siblings were all taken by… masked police. Heavily armed Special Forces police raided their home and taken (sic) them by covering their face and shackling them in front of the kids.” Australian Uyghur

Xinjiang province is a vast area of deserts and mountains where the ancient Silk Road once ran. Today its Uyghur population is being systematically rounded up with estimates of as many as a million citizens being held in detention.

“I realised it was kind of next level material in terms of what the Chinese state is capable of doing.” Open source investigator

In this investigation by reporter Sophie McNeill, Four Corners uncovers disturbing evidence of how China is effectively operating the world’s largest prison.

“You have to watch the brainwashing program on TV in the detention centre. In that room they put (a) chain onto my ankle, put the handcuffs on my hand.” Australian Uyghur detainee

Even those still left in their homes are being monitored. The communist regime is using cutting edge technology, mass surveillance tools and artificial intelligence to control an entire population.

“Every 200 meters, there’s checkpoints. They check your IDs. They will check your smartphone.” Australian Uyghur

By piecing together witness accounts from Australian citizens caught up in the Chinese Government’s campaign, along with satellite imagery analysis and official documents uncovered online, the truth about what is occurring in Xinjiang is laid bare.

“I realised the magnitude and the impact… it was really something else.” Open source investigator

The program has uncovered evidence of detainees being forced to work in factories with implications for Australian companies doing business in the region.

“Western companies stand an increasing risk of having products made by forced or at least highly involuntary labour.” Academic

The program will also reveal concerning evidence about Australia’s links to China’s dystopian surveillance state and the tools used to racially profile its own citizens.

“Essentially by doing that, we’re being complicit in the human rights abuses that are occurring in Xinjiang and in China more widely.” Surveillance researcher

The events unfolding in China are creating heartbreak for Uyghurs in Australia. They have stayed quiet for fear of provoking the authorities into punishing their relatives. Now, in desperation they are breaking their silence to tell the world what is going on.

“She said ‘If I am not released, cannot get out of here, please speak up for me. Stand for me. Never give up’.” Uyghur Australian

“Now I have to speak out. I think Australians, all the Australia need to know this story.” Uyghur Australian

Monday 15th July at 8.30pm on ABC.