UK lawmakers declare Uyghur treatment by China a genocide

It has been alleged often that China is detaining up to 2 million people in a system of camps set up across Xinjiang in recent years.

Survivors in the camp alleged that they were subjected to widespread abuse, including brainwashing, torture, rape and forced labor.

China has repeatedly rejected the claims.

Following a debate on Thursday, the House of Commons passed unopposed a non-binding resolution condemning 'mass human rights abuses and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region', reports CNN.

"Today's vote must mark a turning point. No one can still deny the scale of the abuses taking place in the Xinjiang region," Labour lawmaker Yasmin Qureshi, a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China UK, was quoted as saying by CNN.

While the move will likely be seen as having no real impact on UK government policy, it is sure to damage relations between London and Beijing.

Ties are already severely strained by Britain's decision to impose sanctions on Xinjiang, and the resulting tit-for-tat Chinese penalties, as well as China's moves to limit democracy in Hong Kong, a former British colony, reports the American news channel.