13th January 2025 – (Beijing) Recent reports from American media have highlighted the plight of a group of Uighur men detained in Thailand over a decade ago, who are now reportedly facing imminent deportation back to China. Families of these individuals have expressed grave concerns regarding the potential for torture and mistreatment upon their return.
In response to these allegations, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand issued a statement on 12th January, condemning what it termed as politically motivated attacks and misinformation from certain countries. The embassy welcomed Thai citizens to visit Xinjiang, inviting them to witness the region’s “prosperity and freedom” firsthand.
A spokesperson for the embassy addressed the recent claims regarding Uighurs, asserting that some Western media have exploited the situation to tarnish China’s image. The spokesperson emphasised that China is a rule-of-law nation that consistently opposes torture, and that Uighurs in Xinjiang currently enjoy unprecedented economic, social, cultural, and political rights.
The spokesperson further elaborated on the historical context, noting that the 1990s saw Xinjiang suffer from ethnic separatism, religious extremism, and violent terrorism. They claimed that a minority of individuals, influenced by foreign forces, fled the region and even joined terrorist organisations. In recent years, the Xinjiang government has implemented preventive counter-terrorism and de-extremification measures, which they argue align with the United Nations’ global counter-terrorism strategy.
The embassy’s remarks included criticism of what they described as “selective blindness” from certain nations regarding the terrorist threats faced by Xinjiang, contending that these countries overlook the region’s achievements in maintaining social stability and enhancing the well-being of its citizens while viewing its counter-terrorism efforts through a biased lens.
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English (US) ·