Chamath Palihapitiya, a billionaire investor, claims that “nobody cares” about the Uyghur genocide in China

KEY POINTS

• Billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya stated throughout a current podcast episode that “no one cares” approximately the continued human rights abuses in opposition to the Uyghurs in China.
• The abuse of Uyghurs and participants of different Muslim minorities withinside the place has been defined as “widespread, state-subsidized compelled labor” and “mass detention.”
• Palihapitiya went on to mention that he cared approximately deliver chain troubles, weather change, America’s crippled healthcare device in addition to the capacity financial fallout of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
• “Of all of the matters that I care approximately, it’s miles under my line,” Palihapitiya stated of the Uyghurs’ plight.

 

WASHINGTON – Billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya prompted a backlash on social media after announcing throughout a current episode of his podcast that “no one cares” approximately the continued human rights abuses in opposition to the Uyghurs in China.

During a 90-minute episode, Palihapitiya advised co-host Jason Calacanis on their “All-In” podcast that he might be mendacity if he stated that he cared approximately the Uyghurs, an ethnic Muslim minority in China’s northwest place of Xinjiang.

“Every time I say that I care approximately the Uyghurs, I’m actually simply mendacity if I don’t actually care. And so, I’d as an alternative now no longer mislead you and inform you the truth, it’s now no longer a concern for me,” stated Palihapitiya, a undertaking capitalist who owns 10% of the NBA group the Golden State Warriors.

The group wrote in a assertion on Twitter Monday that Palihapitiya “does now no longer communicate on behalf of our franchise, and his perspectives simply don’t mirror the ones of our organization.” The Golden State Warriors’ assertion did now no longer point out the Uyghurs or China.

Calacanis and Palihapitiya commenced speaking approximately the Uyghurs while Calacanis praised President Joe Biden’s overseas coverage method to China.

The Biden management has defined the abuse of Uyghurs and participants of different Muslim minorities withinside the place as “widespread, state-subsidized compelled labor” and “mass detention.” The Biden management has additionally warned groups with deliver chain and funding ties to Xinjiang that they may face felony consequences.

In July, that caution manifested as a joint advisory from the Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security and Labor, at the side of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The most-pointed line from the Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory states that “agencies and people that don’t go out deliver chains, ventures, and/or investments related to Xinjiang may want to run a excessive chance of violating U.S. law.”

The Chinese authorities has formerly denied any wrongdoing or human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

About 15 mins into the podcast, Calacanis pointed to the Biden management’s steps to shrink and cope with China’s sweeping human rights abuses while the subsequent communique ensued:

Calacanis: His [President Biden’s] China coverage, the reality that he got here out with a assertion at the Uyghurs, I idea it became very strong.

You know, it’s one of the more potent matters he did, however it’s now no longer developing withinside the polls.

Palihapitiya: Let’s be honest, no one, no one cares approximately what’s occurring to the Uyghurs, okay? You convey it up due to the fact you actually care. And I assume that’s actually fine which you care however …

Calacanis: What? What do you suggest no one cares?

Palihapitiya: The relaxation people don’t care. I’m simply telling you a completely difficult truth.

Calacanis: Wait, you in my opinion don’t care?

Palihapitiya: I’m telling you a completely difficult truth, okay? Of all of the matters that I care approximately. Yes, it’s miles under my line. Okay, of all of the matters that I care approximately it’s miles under my line.

Calacanis: Disappointing.

Palihapitiya went on to mention that he cared approximately deliver chain troubles, weather change, America’s crippled health-care device in addition to the capacity financial fallout of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

He later clarified his comments in a Monday nighttime tweet, announcing he acknowledges that he got here throughout as “missing empathy.”

“As a refugee, my own circle of relatives fled a rustic with its personal set of human rights troubles so that is some thing this is very plenty part of my lived experience,” stated Palihapitiya, who turned into born in Sri Lanka. “To be clear, my notion is that human rights matter, whether or not in China, the United States, or elsewhere. Full stop.”

Last month, the White House introduced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 in Beijing, citing “ongoing genocide and crimes towards humanity in Xinjiang and different human rights abuses.”

Governments, civil society agencies and United Nations officers have formerly expressed situation over Beijing’s harsh measures of repressing folks that criticize the Chinese Communist Party.