2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> Nation> Content
Friday, June 19, 2020, 10:24
China strongly opposes US signing of Xinjiang bill
By Xinhua
Friday, June 19, 2020, 10:24 By Xinhua

BEIJING The Chinese government and people express strong indignation over and resolute opposition to the signing of the so-called Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020  by the United States, foreign ministry said Thursday in a statement.

It said the so-called act deliberately slandered the human rights situation in Xinjiang, maliciously attacked the Chinese government's policy on governing Xinjiang, flagrantly trampled on the international law and basic norms guiding international relations, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs.

"Xinjiang-related issues are not issues about human rights, ethnicity or religion at all, but about combating violent terrorism and separatism. Xinjiang once suffered deeply from extremism, violent terrorism and separatism, which jeopardized the safety and property of the people there. Xinjiang has taken a series of measures to combat these activities and prevent their re-occurrence, in an approach of addressing both the symptoms and root causes of the problem. The measures taken are in compliance with Chinese laws. They are also China's concrete steps in implementing the international counter-terrorism and de-radicalization initiatives, including the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism," reads the statement.

According to the statement, the measures carried out in Xinjiang have effectively curbed the rising and frequent occurrences of violent terrorist activities, safeguarded national unity and security to the greatest extent possible, and protected the fundamental rights of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including their rights to life, health and development. Over the past three years and more, there has not been a single violent terrorist case in Xinjiang. People of different ethnic groups and religious beliefs in Xinjiang live together as equals, enjoy unity and harmony, and lead a peaceful and stable life. China's policy in Xinjiang has been positively recognized across the international community.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress strongly condemned and resolutely opposed the signing of the so-called act by the United States in disregard of stern representations from China

ALSO READ: US exposes its double standards on human rights

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on Thursday also strongly condemned and resolutely opposed the US signing of the act in disregard of stern representations from China.

To respect and protect human rights is an important principle set forth in China's Constitution and an important goal of China's endeavors to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the committee said in a statement.

From 1990 to the end of 2016, thousands of terrorist attacks were launched in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China, causing substantial losses of innocent lives and damages of property, the statement noted.

The measures China has adopted to counter terrorism and extremism, including setting up vocational education and training centers, are in line with Chinese laws and the international community's shared expectations for counterterrorism, the statement said.

Over the past more than three years, not a single case of terrorist attack occurred in Xinjiang, which has, to the greatest extent, protected the rights to life of the 25 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, it noted.

"This is the best embodiment of respecting human rights, which has been endorsed by the Chinese people and widely supported by the international community," said the statement. "Xinjiang-related issues are nothing about human rights, ethnicity or religion at all, but about combating violence, terrorism and extremism."

The United States is also a victim of terrorism and should have supported China's anti-terrorism measures, according to the statement.

In the name of human rights, however, the United States has maliciously attacked China's counterterrorism and deradicalization efforts, attempting to destroy the favorable situation of stability and development in Xinjiang, according to the statement.

"It is a typical double standard on counterterrorism," it said.

Xinjiang affairs are part of China's internal affairs that brook no external interference, the statement said, stressing China is unswervingly committed to defending its national sovereignty, security and development interests.

"We urge the US side to immediately stop its interference in China's internal affairs and its wrongdoings that have seriously damaged China-US relations,"

READ MORE: China issues report on human rights violations in US

The Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region expressed a similar sentiment on Thursday, saying the so-called act wantonly slandered and groundlessly criticized the human rights situation in Xinjiang as well as its counter-terrorism and deradicalization efforts.

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !