Stern Statement

by the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

on Refuting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s

Xinjiang-related Lies

On January 19, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo published Xinjiang-related lies, ignoring the facts and deliberately smearing the good situation and the happy life of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. That is gross interference of China’s domestic affairs and violates international law and basic norms of international relations. It completely exposed the immoral nature and doomsday madness of the worst and most wicked secretary of state in American history. The people’s government of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang deplore and reject it.

Pompeo falsely accused that Xinjiang established “concentration camps” that illegally detained and prosecuted one million of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. That is sheer nonsense. Xinjiang’s lawful fight against terrorism and extremism is a just measure recognized and supported by the international community. In the face of the severe situation of frequent violent terrorist attacks over a past period of time, Xinjiang has upheld the principle of fighting and preventing terrorism and extremism at the same time on the basis of the counter-terrorism and deradicalization experiences learned from the international community. In the light of the facts and laws, Xinjiang strikes on violent terrorist crimes while addressing the root causes of the problem. Through establishing vocational education and training centers, it has maximized effort to eradicate the soil and conditions that breed terrorism and extremism, and protect the citizens’ basic rights from infringement. The centers in Xinjiang are no different in nature from the DDP ( Desistance and Disengagement Program) in the UK and the deradicalization centers in France, all being conducive attempts and proactive explorations for preventive counter-terrorism and deradicalization. While carrying out the vocational education and training program, Xinjiang fully guaranteed the trainees’ personal freedom and communication freedom, ensured their right to use ethnic languages and writing systems, respected and protected their traditions, habits and freedom of religious belief. By October, 2019, all the trainees in these facilities had graduated. With the help of the government, they have successively found stable jobs that improve their living standards, and are now living a normal life.

Pompeo slandered that there is forced labor in Xinjiang, which is completely nonsense. Xinjiang has always followed the Constitution of International Labor Organization and other relevant conventions, and strictly practiced the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations, brought the establishment, management, supervision, arbitration of labor relations under legal scrutiny, and forbade to force a person to work by violence, threat or illegal restriction of personal freedom. All ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy complete freedom in employment. They can choose their professions, go any places and do any jobs at their own will, and their personal freedom has never been limited. What all level of governments have done are to improve all kinds of employment facilitation policies, actively establish job information sharing platforms, foster a favorable environment for employment, and create conditions for all ethic groups to find satisfactory jobs that offer them stable incomes. Xinjiang has, to the maximum degree, protected their right to work. Their rights of receiving work incomes, rest and vacation, working safety, health protection, social insurance and welfare are protected by law. The religion beliefs, cultures and languages of workers of all ethic groups in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China are all respected and protected in accordance with the law.

Pompeo smeared that Xinjiang repressed ethic minority populations and committed genocide against Uyghurs. That is totally baseless. In fact the population of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang has continued to increase. According to statistics, from 2010 to 2018, the permanent population in Xinjiang grew from 21.8158 million, an increase of 3.0518 million, up to 13.99%. Among them, ethic minorities population grew from 12.9859 million to 15.8608 million, an increase of 2.8749 million, up 22.14%; the Uyghur population grew from 10.1715 million to 12.7184 million, an increase of 2.5469 million, up 25.04%; the population of Han grew from 8.8299 million to 9.0068 million, an increase of 176,900, up 2.0%. The growth of Uyghur people is not only higher than that of Xinjiang total population, but also higher than that of Xinjiang ethnic groups, and much higher than that of Han people in Xinjiang. In the implementation of family planing policy according to the law, Xinjiang prohibits late-stage abortion, forced sterilization and pregnancy examination and other illegal practices. Individuals of all ethnic groups decide whether to take contraception measures and what kind of measures at their own will, which should not be meddled by any other organization or individual. There doesn’t exist forced sterilization.

Pompeo claims that Xinjiang cracks down religion freedom and deprive ethnic minorities of the right of religious belief, which is completely calumny and slander. In Xinjiang, it is a completely independent choice of citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion. No organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. All normal religious activities that believers conduct at venues for religious activities or in their own homes in accordance with customary religious practices, are exclusive affairs of religious groups and the believers themselves. These activities are protected by law, and no organization or individual may interfere with them. The practices of respecting and protecting religious belief freedom are commended by the international community including Muslim countries. In March 2019, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation adopted a resolution commending China's efforts in providing care to its Muslim citizens. In October 2020, 20 Arab countries and the Arab League’s envoys and diplomats visited Xinjiang and spoke highly of the achievements made by Xinjiang to uphold citizens’ religious belief freedom.

Pompeo slandered about Communist Party of China’s crimes against humanity upon Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, it is nothing but a barefaced nonsense. The CPC started with only dozens of members, and today it has grown into a major party with over 91 million members and has long been the ruling party in the world’s most populous country. That is because the CPC always put people’s interests as the top priority, and always sticks together with the people through thick and thin. It is under the leadership of CPC, tremendous changes have taken place in Xinjiang with unprecedented achievements made in social and economic developments and people’s livelihoods improvements, favorable situation of social stability and people’s harmony have been achieved in both southern and northern Tianshan Mountains with growing sense of fulfillment, happiness and security gained by people of all ethnic groups.

Firstly, Xinjiang has maintained social stability. No violent, terrorist case happened over the past four years and cases of criminal and public security have fallen dramatically, the precious peace and stability that expected by people of all ethnic groups’ for long has been realized.

Secondly, Xinjiang has witnesses steady and healthy economic growth. From 2014 to 2019, the gross domestic product in Xinjiang grew at an average annual rate of 7.2% from 919.59 billion yuan to 1.35971 trillion yuan. The general public budget revenue has increased from 128.23 billion yuan to 157.76 billion with an annual growth rate of 5.7%. The infrastructure has been improved gradually, all prefectures and cities of the region now have access to highways.

Thirdly, people’s lives has been tremendously improved. From 2014 to 2019, the per capita disposable income of Xinjiang residents grew at an average of annual rate of 9.1%. 1.69 million new safe houses have been built up in rural areas, and 1.56 million affordable apartments in urban areas in which more than 10 million people now lived with happiness. The basis public service level has been improved continuously with social insurance system completed day by day, annual free health examination has been offered to all Xinjiang residents.

Fourthly , decisive achievements has been made in the poverty reduction endeavor. Under current standard, 3.0649 million impoverished households in 3666 poor villages of 32 poor counties have all been lifted out of poverty in Xinjiang, and the problem of absolute poverty has been solved historically.

Dark clouds cannot hide the sun and the truth will not be defeated by lies. The downright lie fabricated by Pompeo, only demonstrate his inferior dignity and the evil intention to meddle in China’s internal affairs. Pompeo will be judged and brought to account by the history fairly. We firmly believe that no matter how hard Pompeo lies, cheats and sows discords, the favorable situation of social stability and long-term harmony will not be destroyed, the happy lives of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will not be disturbed, and the steps Xinjiang marches forward will not be stopped. We firmly believe that under the strong leadership of Communist Party of China, the tomorrow of Xinjiang will be even more brighter!