'Sick of this hypocrisy': Russia comes to China's rescue, bashes US on forced labour use in fighting LA fires

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused the United States of hypocrisy over its use of prison labour to combat wildfires in California. She drew comparisons to American criticism of alleged forced labour practices in China’s Xinjiang region.

In a statement on her Telegram channel, Zakharova pointed to recent reports that nearly 800 incarcerated individuals in California were mobilised to assist firefighters battling wildfires across the state. She contrasted this with Washington’s long-standing condemnation of Beijing for alleged human rights abuses, including the use of forced labour in Xinjiang.

“This raises a logical question: will Congress draft a bill imposing sanctions on California authorities, private companies, and ordinary Americans for using prison labour to put out fires?” Zakharova wrote. “We are so sick of this hypocrisy!”

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The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, with Zakharova’s comments pointing to the growing alignment between Russia and China in countering US narratives on human rights.

US actions against Chinese companies

When speaking of sanctions, Zakharova was referencing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), a law signed in December 2021 to prevent goods allegedly produced with Uyghur forced labour from entering US markets.

Since its enactment, the US has blacklisted more than 100 Chinese companies, including 30 new additions in November 2024, for their purported involvement in forced labour practices.

Incarcerated firefighters in California

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reported last week that 783 incarcerated individuals had joined nearly 2,000 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) personnel in fighting wildfires.

Under the US Constitution’s 13th Amendment, prison labour is legal as a punishment for crime, allowing inmates to perform physically demanding and dangerous tasks for low wages. The incarcerated firefighters in California earn a maximum of $10.24 per day for their work.

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The use of prison labour in firefighting has drawn criticism within the United States, with activists and advocacy groups condemning it as exploitative and akin to “slavery”.

With inputs from agencies