International relationsKazakhstan and Uzbekistan spurn US call to confront China
Pompeo's plea to end 'repression' of Muslim minorities also draws Chinese ire
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lambasted China for its treatment of its Muslim minorities on his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. © Reuters
PAUL BARTLETT, Contributing writer
February 13, 2020 15:17 JST
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took advantage of his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan last week to lambast China over its treatment of its Muslim minorities and reliability as a business partner, but was met with a lukewarm response from the two Central Asian states.