A new report by Human Rights Watch has detailed instances of what it calls crimes against humanity in Xinjiang carried out by the Chinese government against Muslim Uighurs.
Acts of sexual violence and torture are detailed in the 53-page report 'Break Their Lineage, Break Their Roots', which was co-authored with the Stanford Law School.
Elaine Pearson, the Australia director at Human Rights Watch, said the accounts shared with researchers were disturbing and appeared to be escalating in intensity and frequency.
"For instance, one person told us of how they were stripped naked, forced to undergo a medical examination, electroshocked and beaten while interrogated."
In another account, the report details how one man's solitary confinement punishment for resisting political education efforts involved him being forced to stand for 24 hours without sleep, with no food or water, and handcuffed in a two-by-two metre cell.
Countries urged to pursue prosecution for crimes against humanity
The report said the available evidence at this stage meets the legal criteria for crimes against humanity, but falls short of genocide.
"We haven't documented ourselves genocidal intent, but crimes against humanity are extremely serious crimes," Ms Pearson said.
"And this report does not rule out a finding of genocide by others in the future. I think one thing to remember is that access to Xinjiang is extremely limited."
The human rights group is urging an independent United Nations investigation in Xinjiang to verify what is happening.
China has denied allegations of abuse and genocide, blaming "anti-China forces" for "some distorted coverage" in Western media.
Chinese officials said the detention facilities for Uighurs are vocational training centres aimed at deradicalising terrorists.
Renewed push for Australia to announce sanctions
The European Union, United States and Canada have announced sanctions against Chinese officials, with China responding with sanctions of its own.
Chinese ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye earlier this month , even as Labor's foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong renewed calls for such action.
In a speech overnight in Hobart, she called for the implementation of a legal framework for targeted sanctions against human rights perpetrators, similar to the Magnitsky Act in the US.
"Implementing Magnitsky sanctions and playing our part in ending modern slavery are concrete actions that Australia can take to change the world for the better," she said in her address to the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
Australia, among other countries, is being urged by Human Rights Watch to pursue prosecution of crimes against humanity under "universal jurisdiction", which allows countries to prosecute crimes like torture committed against their nationals overseas.
Australian permanent resident sentenced to 25 years in Xinjiang jail
It comes as an Australian permanent resident, 30-year-old Mirzat Taher, is sentenced to 25 years for alleged "separatism" relating to time spent in Turkey.
His wife, Melbourne-born Mehray Mezensof, said the sentence is baseless and she has concerns for his safety.
The Australian government said it is limited to providing consular support to Australian citizens only.
Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said the case is an extreme example.
"[The sentence is] absolutely horrifying and gobsmacking: a 25-year sentence. That's really at the outer limit of what we've documented, except for people who have been given life sentences."
Elaine Pearson said there has been a growing number of examples of Uighur activists being handed prison sentences, ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, for acts deemed by Chinese officials to be separatist activities.
"We've seen other examples of Uighur families who have travelled to Turkey; who haven't committed any other offences, but perhaps received household goods or a musical instrument; and on the basis of that, they have been sentenced to 11 to 23 years in prison."
Ms Pearson said there is a precedent for the Australian government to act in cases involving Australian permanent residents, including the case of .
"He [Mirzat Taher] is a permanent resident of Australia, so absolutely the government could and should be doing more to advocate for his freedom. We have seen the Australian government advocate for Australian permanent residents in the past."
