China invites European diplomats to visit Xinjiang as backlash grows over Muslim camps
- ‘Informal’ offer made as Beijing tries to defend its policies in region where it has been accused of locking up more than a million mainly Uygur detainees
- Visit would be first by Western observers, but human rights campaigners sound note of caution about whether they will be given the access they want
China has gone on the offensive in defending its policies in Xinjiang by inviting European diplomats based in Beijing to visit the region, where it has been accused of locking up more than a million mainly Uygur Muslims in mass internment camps.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the foreign ministry confirmed the invitation, saying the diplomats were welcome to come and see the situation in the far western region for themselves.
“Seeing is believing. [We] believe the European diplomats will witness the fact that people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang live and work in peace and harmony,” the statement said.
It added that the ministry was coordinating details of the schedule and arrangements for the visit. If the tour goes ahead it would mark the first time in recent years that a group of Western diplomats has been allowed to visit the region.
Citing diplomatic sources, the Reuters news agency reported that the diplomats – specifically ambassadors – had informally been invited to visit Xinjiang at the end of March, with one source telling the agency the Chinese authorities were “sounding out” interest in the proposal.
A foreign diplomat in Beijing told the South China Morning Post that diplomats would accept the invitation, which he also described as informal, only if they were assured of unrestricted access through the visit.