China hits out at British parliament after it declares Xinjiang’s Uygurs are subject to genocide
- Embassy in London says a ‘handful of MPs cooked up’ the motion to discredit China and defends Beijing’s policies in the region
- Non-binding vote does not change Britain’s official policy, but is likely to increase pressure on Boris Johnson to take a tougher stance
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UK parliament declares Uygurs suffering ‘genocide’ in China’s Xinjiang
“China strongly opposes the UK’s blatant interference in China’s internal affairs. China remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests,” the embassy statement said.
“Xinjiang-related issues are in nature counter-violent terrorism, deradicalisation and anti-separatism, and they bear on China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security.”
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also criticised the vote, saying the accusations were lies manufactured by anti-China forces and told the British MPs to mind their own business.
While the vote was non-binding and does not shift Britain’s official stance on the situation, it is likely to ratchet up pressure on Boris Johnson’s government to toughen its policy on China, in particular on Xinjiang.