“Empty statements about human rights” overlook government achievements in the region and inspire extremists, says editorial by state-run tabloid
Turbulence in China’s restive far western region of Xinjiang has been caused by “external factors”, a state-run newspaper claimed on Saturday in an editorial responding to calls by a group of US lawmakers for sanctions on Chinese officials.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers had on Wednesday called for sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses against minority Muslims in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, saying it was being turned into a “hi-tech police state”.
But whether Xinjiang governance abuses human rights must be judged by whether its results safeguard the interests of the majority in the region, said the editorial in Global Times, a tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily .
“Western accusations of Xinjiang governance seriously misled the extremists, making them believe they were launching religious jihad and won sympathy and support from Western and international society,” it stated.
