China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls Uygur repression claims ‘lies’
- During the Munich Security Conference, Wang Yi firmly rejected international concerns and accusations of Beijing’s repressive treatment of its Uygur minority
- Hundreds of thousands of Muslim Uygurs have been put into re-education camps, according to human rights activists, citing reports of torture and abuse
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi firmly rejected international concerns and accusations about Beijing’s repressive treatment of its Uygur minority in comments made to the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
“These are lies that have been fabricated and spread as disinformation,” said Wang, addressing the conference by video link.
“You can believe me that the Chinese government is telling the truth here, you can trust our publications here,” he said.
Uygurs who have fled the Xinjiang region abroad allege that people are sometimes rounded up on the street and sent to detention camps – dubbed re-education centres – where they are taught to stop any behaviour associated with Uygur culture.
Beijing accuses the minority of separatism and terrorism.
Wang Yi claimed Xinjiang had suffered from “radical ideologies” and extremist attacks in the past and that “terrorist forces” had entered the region from abroad, forcing the government to take action.
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Today, all citizens can live peacefully and happily, Wang told attendees at the conference, adding that all ethnic groups were able to freely follow their faith.
Wang said Beijing was taking preventive action against terrorism and called on the international community to recognise this.
He also said China was open for the United Nations’ Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet and other representatives from abroad to visit Xinjiang, saying the province was ready for an “exchange of views.”
