>It’s forced manual labor, done for the benefit of the non-imprisoned populace.
From what I understand, when the media talks about an Apple supplier exploiting Uighurs for example, they're talking about a factory that employs willing people and others who are forced to find a job or else they'll be sent back to a detention camp. This is terrible, but it's not comparable to being sent off to a laogai camp.
>Mass shutdown of factories might actually spur some protest from the general populace and shed light on the plight of the imprisoned.
Someone desperate for work won't give a damn about the plight of others. This goes for the Chinese who will angry at what they perceive as western hegemony, and the people who would lose their jobs at home.
> they're talking about a factory that employs willing people
Prisoners forced to choose between harsh detention or menial factory work, are not “willing”.
This is the same argument made by people against minimum wage increases - “why do low wage workers do such jobs, they have a choice”.
The USA also has the same kind of prison labor, and inmates are forced to work for the profit of companies and the state, while receiving barely any wages in return. In fact, most of them cannot get any real work after release either.
> Someone desperate for work
I’m talking about the general global populace waking up to the fact that their goods are made by (essentially) slaves, as a result of labor shutdowns. This would be really beneficial to the worker class, and harm the ruling class.
And from the previous comment:
> importers demanding razor thin margins
Western companies that “believe” in human rights could just as well manufacture goods with a conscience and demand fair-trade supply chains; instead of just profit. But obviously, reality shows us otherwise.
>Prisoners forced to choose between harsh detention or menial factory work, are not “willing”
I mean that the factories employ regular employees as well as those threatened to be sent back to detention. I don't see why both groups of people should be punished so that people thousands of miles away can feel a better conscience.
>I’m talking about the general global populace waking up to the fact that their goods are made by (essentially) slaves, as a result of labor shutdowns.
Has anything like that has ever happened in history? I don't see how people in economic distress are less likely to care about the plight of others. Meanwhile, if people cared enough to cut all trade with China, I don't see what more awareness would get us.
> I don't see why both groups of people should be punished so that people thousands of miles away can feel a better conscience.
What do you mean? This thread is about how China is violently dealing with dissenters within Asia (HK is not China). We’re talking about how a ban on slave labor Chinese goods could solve things.
> Has anything like that has ever happened in history?
Never before in history has the global manufacturing industry concentrated into one region (China).
> I don't see what more awareness would get us.
Awareness would instigate change, and China would be forced to stop utilizing prisoner-slave labor.
> people thousands of miles away can feel a better conscience
I’m really concerned by the level of dismissiveness you’re showing. Not sure if this discussion is leading anywhere.
What do you think a labor camp is, actually? It’s forced manual labor, done for the benefit of the non-imprisoned populace.
I don’t believe there’s much of a difference between being forced to manufacture goods versus rotting in a prison - both are horrible.
Mass shutdown of factories might actually spur some protest from the general populace and shed light on the plight of the imprisoned.