U.S. attempt to hinder Xinjiang’s development under guise of human rights doomed to failure

For some time, some U.S. politicians have repeatedly spread rumors about issues related to northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to create trouble for China under the guise of upholding human rights.

Recently, the U.S. signed the so-called “Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act” into law, continuing to maliciously confuse right and wrong and defame the human rights situation in Xinjiang in total disregard of facts.

A tourist rides snowmobile at a ski resort in Hami city, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Dec. 25, 2021. (People’s Daily Online/Li Hua)

The move constitutes a flagrant provocation against the basic conscience and justice of humanity and gross interference in the internal affairs of China, and has seriously violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations. China is indignant at and strongly opposed to it.

Relevant actions of the U.S. have nothing to do with human rights, but are completely political manipulation and economic bullying. By imposing sanctions upon enterprises in Xinjiang, the U.S. vainly attempts to cause “forced unemployment” and “forced poverty” for the region, drag people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang into poverty, seclusion and backwardness, and eventually destabilize the region and impede China’s development.

Such misdeeds that violate market rules and business ethics will only sabotage the stability of global industrial and supply chains, disrupt international trade order, and damage the interests and credibility of the U.S. itself.

The essence of Xinjiang-related issues is the issue of countering violence and terrorism, de-radicalization, and anti-separatism. The so-called allegations of “genocide” and “forced labor” in Xinjiang are nothing but vicious lies concocted by anti-China forces in the West, including the U.S.

At the 48th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, nearly 100 countries voiced their support for China’s position regarding Xinjiang in various ways, including releasing joint statement, making separate speeches, and sending joint letter, stressing that Xinjiang-related issues are purely China’s internal affairs that should not be interfered in by any other country and expressing opposition to interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

These sonorous and forceful voices of justice have proven again that justice naturally inhabits people’s hearts.

Tourists ride snow bicycles in Wugongtai township, Hutubi county, Changji Hui autonomous prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Dec. 18, 2021. (People’s Daily Online/Tao Weiming)

The absurd accusations made by the U.S. against Xinjiang are clearly scotched by the fact that people of various ethnic groups in the region are enjoying unity, harmony, common progress, and happy lives.

At present, Xinjiang is in an optimal period for development in its history. People of all ethnic groups in the region are closely united as family members, just like pomegranate seeds that stick together, and working together to create a better and happier life.

Every family living in the vast areas both north and south of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang has stable livelihood and steady monthly income. Meanwhile, the income of people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang has increased continuously, their living standards have been improved with each passing day, and their sense of gain, happiness, and security has been significantly enhanced.

Just like what international personages who have visited Xinjiang and witnessed the region’s development said, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are equal and united, and they jointly develop and build the region and share a happy life; the traditional cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are rich and splendid, and the local people’s freedom of religious belief is protected and respected; and Xinjiang’s human rights development and progress are obvious to all.

No human right is more important than the right to a happy life, and employment is pivotal to people’s wellbeing.

In recent years, Xinjiang’s policy system that protects people’s employment and labor rights has been further improved, while the region’s scale of employment has expanded constantly. Besides, the region’s employment structure is continuously optimized, and its workforce quality has witnessed a significant increase.

From 2014 to 2020, the total employed population in Xinjiang grew from about 11.35 million to 13.56 million, up by 19.4 percent.

While vigorously boosting local employment, Xinjiang safeguarded people’s legitimate rights and interests strictly according to law, such as workers’ equal right to employment, right to remuneration for labor, right to social insurance and welfare, right to rest and holiday, and right to occupational safety, constantly strengthening the protection of the rights and interests of workers.

The accusation of “forced labor” in Xinjiang has no credibility at all, said Zamir Ahmed Awan, deputy director of the Center for Chinese Studies, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan.

Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2021 shows people reading books at a public library of Lop county, Hotan prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Recently, Beijing Infrastructure Investment Co., Ltd. donated books to the library. (People’s Daily Online/ Ainiwaer)

Xinjiang has well-established employment policies, said Awan, who has visited Xinjiang many times.

Acting as human rights “preacher” and “judge”, some people in the U.S. always make irresponsible remarks on the human rights situation of other countries in a condescending manner. Ironically, it is the U.S. that is a habitual criminal repeatedly committing the crime of forced labor.

Its several hundred years of trafficking, abusing and discriminating against black slaves has made forced labor an indelible stain on its history of pursuing prosperity. Even to this day, there are still about 500,000 children working in the agricultural sector in the U.S., and between 240,000 and 325,000 women and children are victims of sexual slavery in the country.

During the past five years, up to 100,000 people were trafficked into the U.S. for forced labor annually.

By falsely accusing China of the crimes and evil deeds the U.S. itself has committed, the U.S. is gauging the heart of a gentleman with its own mean measure out of ulterior motives.

Xinjiang-related issues are purely China’s internal affairs that brook no external interference. No matter how hard the U.S. tries to cook up lies about and stir up trouble in Xinjiang, it can never stop the resolute steps of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang toward a better life or hinder China’s firm strides along its development path.

The Chinese government and people have unswerving determination to safeguard China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests. The U.S. side must correct its mistakes immediately and stop spreading rumors about Xinjiang, otherwise it will eventually pay dearly for its arrogance.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)