By Zhong Sheng
China has lodged solemn representations with the US side for adding 28 Chinese companies and government agencies on its export control entity list on October 7, with the so-called “human rights issue” in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as an excuse.
What the US did seriously violates basic norms governing international relations, interferes in China’s internal affairs and harms its national interests.
China has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the wrongdoing of the US, and urged the latter to immediately correct its mistake, withdraw relevant decision and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.
The Xinjiang affairs are purely China’s internal affairs, and are related to China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. On Xinjiang-related issues, no one is in a better position to judge than the Chinese government and people, and no other country or external force is allowed to interfere.
Under the guise of human rights, the US frequently imposes unilateral sanctions on Chinese entities in accordance with its own domestic laws. This time, it seized the opportunity to slander and defame China’s governance policies in Xinjiang, and grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs.
The latest act of the US has once again exposed its sinister aim to impede the counter-terrorism efforts in Xinjiang and stability and development of China.
There is no so-called “human rights issue” in Xinjiang. The US has repeatedly turned a blind eye to facts, distorted black and white and made groundless accusations against China, which are merely excuses deliberately created to interfere in China’s internal affairs.
Terrorism and extremism are the common enemies of humanity. It is the common aspiration of people of all countries to maintain social peace and stability.
The counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures adopted in Xinjiang aim to prevent extremism and terrorism at their root. These measures are consistent with Chinese law and international practice and are a just and fair step to respect and protect human rights.
They have been widely supported by the 25 million people of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang and contributed to the international fight against terrorism. The provocative act of the US against justice will be despised by the world.
China’s efforts and achievements in combating and eliminating terrorism are part of its responsibility to safeguard world peace and development. The world has witnessed that China’s policies on governing Xinjiang have achieved remarkable results.
At present, with harmonious coexistence of all ethnic groups and social stability, Xinjiang enjoys a sound momentum of economic development. For nearly 3 years, no violent terrorist attacks have taken place in Xinjiang.
Foreign envoys and journalists who visited Xinjiang praised China’s introduction of vocational education and establishment of training institutions as positive measures in helping remove the influence of extremist ideology. Many countries expressed that China’s experience in counter-terrorism and eliminating extremism is worth learning.
Facts speak louder than words, and justice will prevail. Ambassadors from 50 countries to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) co-signed a letter to the President of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to voice their support for China’s position on issues related to its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. They also made positive comments on the development of human rights in Xinjiang and the achievements in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization.
No one can deprive the Chinese people of the right to pursue a better life, and no one can stop China from moving forward. The US has been finger-pointing and making petty moves on the Xinjiang affairs, applying double standards to human rights. The US’ attempt to suppress and defame China will prove futile eventually.
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)
