China firmly opposes US House approval of bill on Xinjiang-related issues

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Wednesday expressed China's strong indignation over and firm opposition to the passing of a bill on Xinjiang-related issues by the US House of Representatives.

The so-called "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019" deliberately smears the human rights condition in Xinjiang, slanders China's efforts in de-radicalization and counter-terrorism and viciously attacks the Chinese government's Xinjiang policy. It seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. China is strongly indignant at and firmly opposed to it, Hua said.

"Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about fighting violence, terrorism and separatism," said the spokesperson.

She said Xinjiang suffered gravely from extremism, violence and terrorism. Faced with severe circumstances, the government of Xinjiang Autonomous Region lawfully fought violent and terrorist crimes while addressing the root causes.

Xinjiang hasn't seen a single terrorist attack over the past three years. Those endeavors are endorsed by all 25 million people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, according to the spokesperson.

She added that the international community speaks highly of China's Xinjiang policy. Since the end of 2018, over 1,000 representatives have visited Xinjiang in more than 70 groups, including officials from various countries, regions and international organizations, and people from the press, religious groups and academic circles. They acclaimed that Xinjiang's experience in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization was worth learning from.

In March this year, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation adopted a resolution that commended China's efforts in providing care to Muslim citizens. In July, ambassadors of over 50 countries to the UN Office in Geneva co-signed a letter to the president of the UN Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, applauding China's respect and protection of human rights in its counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts. In October, at the Third Committee session of the 74th UNGA, more than 60 countries commended in their statements the tremendous human rights progress achieved in Xinjiang. All those are strong proof that the US accusations on Xinjiang-related issues are entirely against facts and the mainstream public opinion of the international community.

"We state our position clearly to the US that as Xinjiang is part of China, its affairs are purely domestic affairs that allow no foreign interference," she said, adding that the bill smears China's efforts in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, which only reveals America's double standards on counter-terrorism and further exposes to the Chinese people its hypocrisy and malicious intentions.

Hua said the Chinese government and people are determined to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. "We urge the US to correct its mistakes at once, prevent this bill from becoming law, and stop using Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs. China will take further actions according to how the situation develops."