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Spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU Speaks on a Question Concerning EU’s Remarks on UN Human Rights Chief’s Visit to China
2022-06-02 17:10

Q: According to news reports, the Spokesperson of the EU said that the European Union regretted that the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner’s access to organizations, individuals and detention centers was limited, and that this did not allow her to assess the full scale of political re-education camps in Xinjiang. What’s your comment on this?

A: At the invitation of the Chinese government, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet visited China from 23 to 28 May, 2022. President Xi Jinping met via video link with the High Commissioner and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with her. Senior officials from the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and All-China Women’s Federation held talks with the High Commissioner respectively.

The High Commissioner visited Guangzhou and Xinjiang during her visit. In Guangzhou, the High Commissioner visited the countryside, elderly care center, rehabilitation facility for people with disabilities, Guangzhou Internet Court, and Circular Economy Industrial Park. These projects reflect China’s community-level democracy, poverty alleviation, judicial protection, environmental protection, people’s well-being, rights protection of specific groups, and human rights education. During her speech at the Guangzhou University, she discussed with the faculty and students on respecting and safeguarding human rights.

During her visit in Xinjiang, the authorities of the Autonomous Region made comprehensive presentation on China’s policies on ethnic and religious affairs, as well as the measures and results of counter-terrorism and deradicalization. The High Commissioner visited the Kashgar Ancient Town, and made a trip to the cotton fields, experiencing the progress that has been made in preserving and promoting ethnic minority traditions and in improving people’s livelihood. The High Commissioner toured an exhibition on counter-terrorism and deradicalization, learning in detail the legal and policy frameworks, practices, and results of counter-terrorism and deradicalization in Xinjiang. High Commissioner Bachelet had face-to-face conversation with religious personnel on the rights of religious freedom of Muslims respected and guaranteed by law. She also had the opportunity to hear from representatives from different social sectors, including women, health, judiciary, and labor.

All the activities and arrangements of High Commissioner Bachelet during her stay in China were decided in accordance with her will and based on full consultation of the two sides. The High Commissioner said at the press conference that she had unsupervised and extensive meetings during the visit. The so-called limited access during the High Commissioner’s visit claimed by the EU is simply untrue.

A few years ago, Xinjiang was ravaged by terrorism and religious extremism. Drawing upon international counter-terrorism experience, the Autonomous Region established vocational education and training centers in accordance with law with the aim of uprooting terrorism and religious extremism at the source. The education and training centers are no different from the Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP) of the UK, or the de-radicalization centers in France. They are in line with the principles and the spirit embodied in a number of international documents on counter-terrorism, such as the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. They are schools, not the so-called “political re-education camps”.

For a period of time, certain Western countries and anti-China elements, under the disguise of human rights, have fabricated many sensational palpable lies on the so-called Xinjiang-related issues. Xinjiang is not at all a human rights issue, but a major issue concerning upholding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. We have adopted lawful measures to combat violent terrorism, protecting lives and property for all, and safeguarding human rights of all ethnic groups across the region. Through unremitting efforts, there has been no violent terrorist attack in Xinjiang for five consecutive years. The region now enjoys security, stability, development and prosperity, and the people there live a happy and fulfilling life. Like the High Commissioner herself, foreigners that have visited Xinjiang would all come to objective and fair conclusions.

In terms of human rights protection, no one can claim perfection and there is always room for improvement. Only the people of a country know best what the human rights situation is like in the country. China stands ready to have human rights dialogues and cooperation with all parties on the basis of equality and mutual respect. However, we firmly reject condescending preaching, politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues, and the exercise of double standards. We will never allow any interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

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