The growth of repression in China against the Uighurs. Evidence from EU satellites (v2)

(B2) If some may wonder what purpose an earth observation center at European level can serve, the answer has just been provided by a simple photo posted by the DG Challenges (Directorate General for Defense and Space) of the European Commission

Quite simply to allow everyone, journalists in particular, to be able to observe certain events, seen from the sky. Here are indeed the images of the "rehabilitation center" of Dabancheng in Xinjiang in China such as the Sentinel2 satellites of the European program of observation and monitoring of the Earth, Copernicus, have been able to observe it in the last four years. Starting with one or two buildings in January 2017, it grows in 2019 and extends further in January 2021, targeting the Ouigours in particular.

A very offensive position

What is interesting is to see the directorate general in charge of Defence, placed under the authority of the (French) commissioner Thierry Breton, having such an offensive attitude towards China. More offensive than European diplomacy usually is. She demonstrates that this satellite tool is not just there for sightseeing or helping to locate one's way in one's car.

For once there were no clouds

« This illustrates how our data can be used by the population said spokesperson Sonya Gospodinova during the press briefing on Tuesday (2.2) answering a question from a colleague. And to add weather precision. " The particularly favorable weather conditions allowed this photo. Usually this region is covered by clouds »

(NGV)

On the center, see the report of the with the BBC

Updated Tuesday 2.2 13:50 p.m.