InXinjiang (131)丨American scholar: Field visit to Xinjiang debunks Western false narratives

In this episode of InXinjiang, we speak with Josef Gregory Mahoney, an American scholar and professor of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University. Having lived in China and devoted himself to academic research for nearly two decades, he has already acquired extensive background knowledge about northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, through books and documents. This marks his first on‑the‑ground visit to Xinjiang, where firsthand experiences have brought him brand‑new and profound insights.

During this trip, Professor Mahoney traveled to Urumqi, Karamay, Kashi and other places. He conducted field observations of local urban development and ecological progress, attended the 9th China‑Eurasia Expo, and held in‑depth exchanges with exhibitors from multiple countries, gaining a genuine sense of Xinjiang’s opening‑up and its dynamic vitality.

Regarding the false narratives about Xinjiang in Western media, Professor Mahoney stated plainly that such disinformation is essentially a public‑relations tactic used by the West to divert attention from its own problems. Claims of so‑called “forced labor” and “genocide” in Xinjiang are outright fabrications. He observed that with false information spreading widely, the best and most credible way to dispel outside biases is for people worldwide to travel to Xinjiang and see things with their own eyes.

Looking at Xinjiang’s long‑term development, the professor offered a positive and confident assessment: “We will continue to see Xinjiang moving forward in very proactive and positive ways, and I'm a big believer in the future of Xinjiang.”

Executive Producer: Xiao Chunfei and Xing Peiyu

Supervisor: Liu Yang

Planner: Cheng Li

Reporter: Gulnigar Amat

Camera: Zhang Qianshi

Post-productions: Li Zelong and Gulnigar Amat

Reviewers: Wang Xiabing and Zhang Shijie

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Special Report: InXinjiang