China considers American accusations of “genocide” allegedly committed by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang province unacceptable, ministry says
Criticism and “slanderous statements” by the American authorities regarding the situation in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are in fact evidence of double standards by the White House in fighting terrorism. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
“We hope that the United States will take into account objective facts and stop slandering Beijing’s strategy in Xinjiang”, – the ministry said in a statement issued on its website following Sino-US talks in Anchorage, Alaska. – Washington should reject double standards in its fight against terrorism.
The statement specified that China considers the US allegations of “genocide” allegedly perpetrated by Chinese authorities in XUAR unacceptable. “We are ready to promote dialogue with Washington on the basis of mutual respect. Moreover, the doors of Xinjiang are wide open to the whole world,” it stresses.
Beijing does not intend to tolerate invective from Washington, which “acts with a presumption of guilt and, guided by prejudice, allows itself to look down [on China] in an edifying teacher’s tone,” the statement said.
XUAR in northwestern China is home to one of the country’s largest ethnic minorities, the Uighurs, most of whom practice Islam. According to the Chinese government, Xinjiang is home to separatist groups linked to the international terrorist Islamist insurgency.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in August 2018 that it had received evidence that up to 1 million members of this ethnic group may be illegally detained in “Xinjiang correctional camps”.