Chinese state media denouces‘two-faced’ Xinjiang officials accused of colluding with extremists
- A documentary by CGTN says the ‘enemy within’ includes a former deputy head of the political and legal committee and ex-education chief
- Beijing’s policies in the region have attracted increasing international criticism amid accusations of genocide and forced labour
Chinese state media has accused former officials in Xinjiang of colluding with terrorist groups in a documentary defending its policies in the far-western region.
The programme, with subtitles in English and Chinese, was aired on Friday amid growing international backlash over claims of human rights abuses in the region.
It was produced by CGTN, the international arm of state broadcaster CCTV, which released three episodes in the series in 2019 and 2020, following reports that a million Muslims were being held in detention camps in the region.
The United States, Canada, the European Union and Britain have all issued sanctions against Chinese officials and organisations accused of human rights abuses against Uygurs and other Muslim minorities. Beijing has retaliated with sanctions of its own.
02:38
Global brands face backlash in China for rejecting Xinjiang cotton
The 55-minute documentary film was named The War in the Shadows and outlined what CGTN said were the causes of terrorist attacks within the region.