China on Wednesday denounced "lies" after criticism from France on the situation of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang, in the north-west of the country. "We strongly oppose the use of religious matters for political purposes and interference in China's internal affairs," Chinese diplomacy spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on the comments. from Paris.
Le Drian had mentioned an "unacceptable" situation
Before the National Assembly, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, judged on Tuesday “unacceptable” the internment of members of the Uyghur minority. The minister spoke of "internment camps for Uyghurs, mass detentions, disappearances, forced labor, forced sterilizations, the destruction of Uyghur cultural heritage and in particular places of worship, surveillance of the population and more overall, the entire repressive system in place in this region ”. Le Drian had also demanded "the access of international independent observers to Xinjiang".
In addition to Le Drian, his colleague from the Economy Bruno Le Maire spoke on Tuesday about Xinjiang a practice "revolting and unacceptable, and (which) we strongly condemn".
Beijing evokes a fight against "terrorism and separatism"
In response, the Beijing spokesperson assured that his country's policy in the region did not relate to human rights or freedom of worship, but to the fight against "terrorism and separatism".
He denounced the "lies" according to which vocational training centers in Xinjiang are "concentration camps" where "more than a million Uyghurs" are "imprisoned". Beijing's policy in Xinjiang "does not target any specific ethnic group or religion," he said.
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