China hosted more than to 397,000 refugees and asylum seekers at the end of 2003. The vast majority (297,000) were refugees from Vietnam (mostly ethnic Chinese) who arrived in 1979, and some 100,000 North Koreans. Since the government does not recognize North Koreans' right to seek asylum and deports them, most North Koreans in China are living in hiding, making it difficult to obtain exact numbers.

Some 34,000 Chinese applied for asylum in other countries, while 3,500 Tibetans fled to Nepal and India, and an unknown number of Uighurs fled to neighboring states.

Non-governmental organizations estimate that China forcibly deports between 150-200 Northern Koreans per week amounting to an estimated 7,800 forced deportations during 2003.

North Koreans North Korea sends its nationals returned by China to labor camps for one to two months as punishment for leaving illegally. People who have had or are perceived as having contact with Christian or South Koreans in China receive harsher sentences including torture and possible execution. The conditions in labor camps are extremely harsh and have led to the deaths of prisoners. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees considers most North Koreans in China people of concern and, despite repeated requests, China has denied it access to them. The U.S. Committee for Refugees considers North Koreans prima facie refugees because North Korea's punishment of them upon return appears to be politically motivated.

North Koreans entered or attempted to enter various diplomatic compounds in Beijing and elsewhere in China by rushing through gates, scaling walls, and using false documents. South Korean closed its consulate in Beijing in October due to an overcapacity of North Koreans, estimated at 120-130, seeking refuge there. China allowed 50 to travel to South Korea as a diplomatic solution to the closing. Other North Koreans crossed to China clandestinely and to seek refuge in South Korean and other foreign embassies in Southeast Asia and the broader region.

China arrested, jailed, fined, and deported foreign nationals for helping North Koreans escape into or out of China. Authorities arrested and detained at least six South Koreans, one Japanese, and eight other foreign nationals for attempting to assist North Koreans defect. A South Korean activist went on trial eight months after his arrest in September 2002. His case is still pending in the Chinese courts. In May 2003, authorities convicted a South Korean freelance journalists for the New York Times and one businessman for smuggling people and sentenced them to two and five years imprisonment respectively.

Chinese Asylum Seekers China persecuted Tibetans, Uighurs, Falun Gong followers, and others considered a threat to the government, creating an outflow of Chinese asylum seekers to other countries in Asia and industrialized countries in the west. The Chinese government used the international war on terrorism to crack down on Uighurs in Xinjian Uighur Autonomous Region, arresting and detaining thousands of Uighurs, including a mass arrest of youth in Yining, Yili prefecture in February 2003. Uighurs detained are at risk of torture and ill-treatment. Chinese authorities closed mosques, restricted the use of the Uighur language, and burned Uighur books and journals. In October, the government executed a Uighur refugee forcibly returned to Nepal. During 2003, China detained and imprisoned Tibetans for peaceful expression of their political and religious views. The Chinese government does not reveal their legal status, condition, charges, or whereabouts. China also jailed 18 Tibetans forcibly returned from Nepal were jailed upon in a detention center in Shigatse, Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Authorities frequently torture and ill-treat Falun Gong practitioners in custody, holding most in re-education-through-labor camps, without charge or trial. They send others to prison or psychiatric hospitals against their will. Some died in prison or upon release. China also sends Christians to re-education labor camps for their religious beliefs and activities.

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