U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to lead a delegation of more than 200 American business leaders to Uzbekistan this weekend, marking a significant opportunity to address the ongoing struggles of the Uyghur diaspora. As Beijing continues its campaign of transnational repression, the Central Asian region has become both a primary refuge and a high-risk area for over 400,000 Uyghurs—the majority of the diaspora living outside East Turkestan.
The visit presents a chance for the U.S. to reaffirm a commitment to human rights, echoing the efforts of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In 2019, Pompeo publicly raised the Uyghur issue with Central Asian foreign ministers, and later pressed the matter with Kazakh leaders during a 2020 visit. These actions provided a sense of advocacy for a community that often feels abandoned. Uyghurs in the region currently face intense pressure, as Central Asian governments grapple with Beijing’s demands to silence activists, suppress civil society, and deport refugees.
The atmosphere for the diaspora is one of suffocating uncertainty. While local populations in countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan often express private sympathy, the fear of Chinese retaliation and domestic government repercussions leads to widespread self-censorship. Unlike other ethnic minorities in the region, the Uyghurs lack a state or neighboring government to advocate for their safety. Past incidents, such as the detention of local individuals who provided food or shelter to refugees in Kazakhstan, illustrate the dangers posed by the looming Chinese influence.
Secretary Rubio’s track record includes co-authoring the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which restricted goods made with forced labor from the U.S. market. During his confirmation hearings, he pledged to urge Thailand against the deportation of at-risk refugees. However, the February 2025 deportation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China—where they subsequently disappeared—highlights the severity of the challenge. This trip serves as a platform to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.
Beyond diplomatic rhetoric, the delegation should focus on resisting the expansion of Chinese surveillance technology in Central Asia. Nations including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan have adopted smart city networks, facial recognition, and data-monitoring tools that facilitate the tracking of Uyghurs. Furthermore, Beijing-backed hackers have targeted telecommunications networks, and the Kazakhstan government has previously sentenced 19 activists for protesting Chinese policies in East Turkistan.
As China implements its “ethnic unity” law, diaspora communities in the region remain vital guardians of Uyghur culture and history. By pressing Central Asian governments to uphold the principle of non-refoulement—which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face torture or abuse—Rubio can signal that U.S. moral leadership remains a priority. The objective of this visit is to demonstrate that the United States will take concrete action to counter Chinese influence and protect the cultural and human rights of the Uyghur people.
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