Theory Research Association of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

The former US Secretary of State Pompeo has repeatedly slandered Xinjiang’s ethnic and religious policies. The day before he left his post, he openly issued a statement in the name of the US State Department, falsely claiming that China’s policy towards Muslims and ethnic minorities in southern Xinjiang constituted “crimes against humanity” and “genocide”. This groundless accusation, based on false lies which confuse the right and the wrong, is not only untenable at all, but also full of malicious slander, arrogance and blatant deception. It fully exposes the ugly nature of a shameless politician who has lost the basic moral conscience of human society. With his disgusting and false performance, he has become “the worst Secretary of State” and a big liar in American history.

Having experienced countless wars, famines and sacrifices in the history of world development, regardless of race or group, human society takes the life of equality, freedom, peace and prosperity as its survival needs and good vision. Today modern countries guarantee the realization of people’s needs and aspirations through legislation and other powerful means. The founding of the People’s Republic of China ended the miserable situation of the Chinese nation suffering from long-term oppression and bullying, and won the right and opportunity to develop modernization and pursue a happy life with all countries and nations in the world. The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups cherish and firmly defend the hard won rights and opportunities, and protect our inherent rights of survival, development, choice and freedom at the cost of life. Any words and actions that misread, ignore, insult and challenge the Chinese people’s faith and determination will inevitably arouse the indignation and resolute opposition of the Chinese people. Any attempt to maintain the strong position and priority development of a certain country or a certain group on the basis of the humiliation and backwardness of other countries or ethnic groups is an unpopular act of racism and bullying. It is also bound to be spurned and resisted by all mankind. Historically, it will bring harmful end to others and commit crimes.

In today’s Xinjiang, people enjoy social stability, economic development and happy life. It is not only the best period for Xinjiang in history, but also the best opportunity for development. The series of white papers on Xinjiang issued by the state have made a true and comprehensive display. Anyone who has visited Xinjiang without prejudice will give an objective and fair evaluation and recognition. Despite the facts, Pompeo and his likes concocted the issue of Xinjiang with ulterior motives, tarnishing the image of Xinjiang, stigmatizing the people of Xinjiang, creating ethnic division, destroyed social stability and hindered the development of Xinjiang. We must counterattack his sinister intentions and evil tactics, expose them mercilessly and fight back according to law.

The Chinese Communist Party takes the pursuit of happiness for the people and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its initial mission, and the realization of the people being the masters of the country as the foundation of the country. Shortly after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, when all kinds of wastes were waiting to be revived, the constitution, considered as “a sheet full of the people’s rights”, was made as a top priority. It was discussed by the people’s deputies and adopted by the National People’s Congress in 1954. Since then, the constitution of our country has been amended many times, but the rights and security of the people have not changed, but have been constantly enriched and strengthened. Article 4 of the Constitution stipulates that all ethnic groups in the People’s Republic of China are equal. Regional autonomy is practiced in areas where ethnic minorities live in compact communities. The Chairman of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the governors of autonomous prefectures and the heads of autonomous counties are all from the citizens of the ethnic groups exercising regional autonomy. In accordance with the Constitution and the law on regional ethnic autonomy, the detailed rules for the implementation of direct elections at or below the county level formulated by the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region stipulate that candidates of all ethnic groups shall be elected among their own ethnic groups. This provision creatively guarantees that all ethnic groups, especially those with a small population, have an appropriate number of representatives in the people’s congresses at all levels, and an appropriate number of citizens hold leading positions in local state organs at all levels, effectively guaranteeing that all ethnic groups fully enjoy the legal rights of election, participation and management. Historically, all ethnic groups in Xinjiang for the first time participate in the management of state and local affairs as equal family members of the Chinese nation.

Development is the foundation of ensuring national equality. Article 4 of the Constitution stipulates that the State shall, in accordance with the characteristics and needs of the ethnic minorities, help the ethnic minority areas to speed up their economic and cultural development. Article 122 stipulates that the State shall help all ethnic minorities to accelerate their economic and cultural development in terms of finance, materials and technology. For a long time, the state not only strongly supports the development of Xinjiang, but also organizes developed provinces and cities to provide paired-up support to Xinjiang. With the strong support of the state and the selfless help of other provinces and cities, and through the hard work of the people of Xinjiang, all the rural poor people in Xinjiang have been lifted out of poverty under the current standard in 2020. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have entered a well-off society in an all-round way together with the people of the whole country, creating an unprecedented miracle in the fascinating land of more than 1.6 million square kilometers. The pear on the ancient Silk Road has regained vitality and vigor in the construction of “Road and Belt”.

Xinjiang has always been a place where many religions coexists. According to the principle of “citizens of the People’s Republic of China have freedom of religious belief” in the constitution, the regulations on religious affairs formulated by the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region clearly stipulates that no department, organization or individual shall compel citizens to believe in or not to believe in religion, and shall not discriminate against citizens who believe in religion or not. The legitimate rights and interests of religious organizations and places for religious activities, the normal educational affairs of religious teaching staff and the normal religious activities of religious citizens shall be protected by law, and no organization or individual may infringe upon or interfere with them. At the same time, in order to ensure that religious personnel carry out normal religious activities according to the law, the regulations also stipulate that religious activities should be carried out within the scope permitted by the constitution, laws and regulations. It is forbidden to use religion to engage in activities that undermine national unity, ethnic unity, social stability, citizens’ health, and interfere with the systems of State Administration, justice, education, marriage, etc. In view of the rampant extremism thoughts and their interference with the legitimate rights of religious believers in a certain period of time, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has issued regulations on de-radicalization and measures for implementing the anti-terrorism law to prevent, curb and eliminate extremism and prevent and punish extremist criminal activities in accordance with the law. Xinjiang’s de-radicalization work carried out in accordance with the law accurately grasps the boundaries between ethnic customs, normal religious activities, illegal religious activities and extremist behaviors, distinguishes the nature, classifies policies, adhering to uniting and educating the majority and attacking and isolating the minority. In order to educate and transform the minority people who are bewitched by extremism ideas, the regulations clearly require the people’s governments at or above the county level to set up vocational education and training centers and other educational transformation institutions and management departments to undertake the responsibility of educating and transforming the people affected by extremism. The vocational education and training center combines learning of national standard language, law and vocational skills together, and integrates education transformation with humanistic care. The purpose is to enable them to return to society and family and live a normal life. These laws and regulations fully guarantee the people’s right to freely believe in different religions and the right to be free from any discrimination and extremism. The number and conditions of existing religious sites in Xinjiang can meet the needs of religious believers in normal religious activities.

The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy fair and just democratic rights according to law, equality and freedom. According to the national constitution and laws, the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has formulated measures for the implementation of the compulsory education law and the regulations on the popularization of high school education in southern Xinjiang. In southern Xinjiang, where Uygur people live in concentrated communities, high school compulsory education is implemented first in China. No children from poor families in Xinjiang have dropped out of school due to poverty. The regulations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the work of language adhere to the principle of equality of languages of all ethnic groups, and guarantee that all ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own languages, and the freedom to maintain or reform their own customs and habits. The People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region holds meetings in national language, Uygur, Kazak, Mongolian and Kirgiz at the same time. The regulations on the administration of the cultural market of Xinjiang clearly stipulate that we should inherit and carry forward the fine traditions of ethnic culture, and encourage and support cultural business activities with local and ethnic characteristics. Under the protection of the regulations on the protection of intangible cultural heritage of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the regulations on the protection of Uygur twelve Muqam art of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the art treasures inherited by the Uygur people have been successfully listed as the world intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO and better inherited and developed. Xinjiang’s implementation of the employment promotion law requires that state departments and institutions should take care of candidates of ethnic minorities in recruiting personnel according to law. All enterprises should absorb local workers and give priority to the applicants of ethnic minority in terms of recruiting. The Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has also formulated a series of eco-environmental laws and regulations represented by the environmental protection regulations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which have played an important role in protecting and restoring the fragile natural living environment of Xinjiang according to law, enhancing the well-being of the people of all ethnic groups, realizing sustainable development and benefiting future generations. It is unswerving efforts of our country to protect and develop human rights in accordance with the law that has greatly stimulated the enthusiasm and strength of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to safeguard the reunification of the motherland, strive together for a beautiful home and a happy life. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang highly recognize the national religious policies, laws and regulations, and fully recognize the achievements of Xinjiang’s development and improvement of people’s livelihood. They are proud of living in a powerful motherland and being equal members of the Chinese nation.

In the face of such a large number of real and objective facts, Pompeo, what is the legal basis of the so-called “accusation” you concocted for Xinjiang China? Are you a judge? From which country? How do you have the right to convict other countries? As a big liar, Pompeo, you have no qualifications to comment on other countries’ internal affairs. In Xinjiang, there is no “miserable world” where the people are destitute and homeless. Where are the “crimes against humanity” in Xinjiang, the Uygur and other ethnic groups are equal, being united together, helping each other and have developed harmonious relationship. The Uygurs not only enjoy all-round economic, cultural and social development, but also have a significant increase in the number and proportion of the population. Pompeo, where does your so called “genocide” come from? Here, I sincerely advise Pompeo that when he fabricated rumors and slanders against China and other countries, be more professional. At least you should be able to justify your fabrications. Stop doing ridiculous things like fabricating untenable lies. Shame on you!

As early as 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was founded, Mao Zedong, the founder of new China, said boldly to those who attempted to blockade and strangle the cradle of the Republic: “blockade! After ten or eight years of blockade, all China’s problems will have been solved! “The Chinese people of all ethnic groups, who have experienced the ordeal from standing up, getting rich to becoming strong, have every reason to be more proud, confident and self-reliant than any other nation in the world! Whether Pompeo is willing or not to see it, likes it or not, believes it or not, and no matter what intrigues, rumors, slanders, or estrangements they engage in, they will not be able to obstruct, stagnate, or control the wheel of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation moving forward, nor will they be able to reverse, deflect, or block the irreversible historical trend of the Chinese people to work together with the people of the world to build a community of shared future for mankind. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will certainly unite as one on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, jointly build and enjoy a better and happy life! All the people in the world will witness all these.