Sydney, Aug. 17 -- The Chinese government is allegedly targeting Uyghur Australians visiting Xinjiang, questioning them about members of the Uyghur community in Australia and pressuring them to gather information on activists, organisations and Uyghur-language schools, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

In a report, HRW said such actions amount to transnational repression and are having a chilling effect on the rights and activities of Uyghurs living in Australia. The organisation said Chinese authorities are exploiting separated families as a means of monitoring and intimidating the diaspora.

HRW said it interviewed 11 Uyghur Australian citizens and permanent residents in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in April and May 2026, includ...