China ‘will retaliate’ if US sanctions it over Xinjiang human rights
- US law allows it to sanction rights violators abroad, but ambassador Cui Tiankai compares China’s ‘re-education’ camps to US fighting Islamic State
- Uygur woman tells US briefing that while in camp she was electrocuted strapped to a chair, her baby died without explanation and she saw nine women die in three months
China will retaliate “in proportion” if the United States sanctions its top official in the restive region of Xinjiang over alleged human rights abuses, China’s ambassador to the US said on Tuesday, adding that Beijing’s policies in the region were to “re-educate” people he compared to terrorists.
Chinese Ambassador to Washington Cui Tiankai told Reuters in an interview that China’s efforts to combat international terrorism were being held to a double standard, comparing Chinese actions in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to US troops battling Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
“Can you imagine (if) some American officials in charge of the fight against [Islamic State] would be sanctioned?” Cui said, adding that “if such actions are taken, we have to retaliate”.
Cui did not elaborate on specific actions China might take.
Beijing has faced an outcry from activists, academics, foreign governments and UN rights experts over mass detentions and strict surveillance of the mostly Muslim Uygur minority and other Muslim groups in Xinjiang.