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Armed paramilitary policemen run in formation during a security drill in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Photo: Reuters

China angered by US criticism of anti-terror fight in Xinjiang

Hundreds have died in unrest Beijing blames on Islamist militants and separatists

China asked the United States on Friday to respect the fight against what Beijing says are militants in Xinjiang after Washington expressed concern about the lack of transparency in China’s anti-terror campaign.

Hundreds have died in recent years in the restive western region, home to the Muslim Uygur people, in unrest blamed by Beijing on Islamist militants and separatists, though rights groups say the violence is more a reaction to Beijing’s repressive policies.

Cracking down on ETIM as a representative of East Turkestan terrorist forces is a core concern of China’s
Hua Chunying, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

China blames the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) for the unrest, though many experts doubt whether ETIM exists as a cohesive militant group.

The US State Department, in its annual report on terrorism around the world, said there was a lack of transparency or information from China about incidents Beijing called terrorism, and said counter-terrorism cooperation was limited.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was “dissatisfied” with what she said were inaccurate remarks about China, and expressed regret at the “unobjective evaluation” of counter-terrorism cooperation.

“We cannot accept the United States issuing reports like this making thoughtless remarks about counter-terrorism policy in China and other countries,” she told a daily news briefing.

China and the US both agreed to list ETIM as a terrorist group at the United Nations, Hua said.

“Cracking down on ETIM as a representative of East Turkestan terrorist forces is a core concern of China’s on the issue of counter-terrorism,” Hua said. “We hope the relevant country can earnestly respect this.”

Western countries have long been reluctant to share intelligence with China or otherwise cooperate, saying China has provided little evidence to prove ETIM’s existence and citing worries about possible human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

This week, the government said there was no religious discrimination in Xinjiang and there would be no interference in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

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