In China's Xinjiang, forced medication accompanies lockdown

In China's Xinjiang, forced medication accompanies lockdown

In Xinjiang, TCM is not optional

Some people in the Xinjiang region of China report that they are being forced to take traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) to fight COVID-19, according to a story in Associated Press. This is despite the risks and lack of evidence that these work. The government has confirmed that participation in TCM treatment in the region has “reached 100%”, according to state media reports. Xinjiang — already notorious for the mass detention and DNA tracking of its Muslim Uighur population — is experiencing the worst COVID-19 outbreak in China. China has made TCM a cornerstone of its COVID-19 response, and critics of the approach can face harsh repercussions.
Associated Press | 9 minutes
Read more: China is promoting coronavirus treatments based on unproven traditional medicines (Nature | 6 min read, from May)