Outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared on his final day in office that China was committing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. “We are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state,” Pompeo was quoted as saying. His comments were welcomed by the Uighur exile community. Anthony Blinken, Joe Biden’s nominee to replace Pompeo, referred to the Chinese activity in Xinjiang as genocide in August.