By People’s Daily Commentator
The so-called “Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020” recently signed into law by the U.S.
deliberately defames the human right conditions in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,
slanders the autonomous region’s achievements in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, and
grossly interferes in China’s domestic affairs.
It once again exposed the double-standards and hypocrisy of the “American human rights.” To
protect human rights is not the aim of the U.S., but a disguise for the White House to undermine
China’s stability and development. Under the banner of human right protection, the U.S. is indeed
seeking for hegemony.
Xinjiang is a major battlefield of China regarding counter-terrorism and de-radicalization. The
essence of Xinjiang-related issues is not about human rights, ethnicity, or religion, but about
combating terrorism and de-radicalization.
From the 1990s to the end of 2016, thousands of violent terrorist attacks happened in Xinjiang,
inflicting heavy casualties and property losses and greatly impeding the economic development
and social progress of the autonomous region.
It’s a consensus now that without secure and stable social environment, the rights to life and
subsistence of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will be endangered, let alone other rights and interests.
The rights to life, health and development are the most basic human rights. Counter-terrorism and
de-radicalization are a common responsibility of the international society, and also a necessary
approach to safeguard human rights. Over the years, multiple countries and regions have actively
explored the ways to combat and prevent terrorism and extremism based on their own conditions.
Learning the international experience on counter-terrorism and starting from its own conditions,
China has been making intensive counterterrorism and de-radicalization efforts. Upholding the
principle of fighting and preventing terrorism at the same time, the autonomous region has been
taking aggressive action against violent terrorist crimes, and at the same time, addressing the
problem at its source. It has been making every effort to protect the fundamental human rights of
citizens from violation by terrorism and extremism. Specific measures include improving public
wellbeing, promoting knowledge of the law through education, and offering education and aid
through vocational education and training centers in accordance with the law. The country has laid
a solid foundation for Xinjiang’s social stability and lasting peace.
Specifically, the vocational education and training centers established in recent years have
effectively curbed the breeding and spread of terrorism and extremism, as well as the frequent
occurrences of terrorist activities, helping the autonomous region achieve important phased
victory in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization.
Over the past three years, there has not been a single violent terrorist case in Xinjiang. Peace and
harmony have returned, and local people have a much stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and
security. The counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts aims to eliminate the tumors that
impede people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang from achieving a better life, and have led to social
harmony and stability, as well as healthy development in the autonomous region.
Rumors are dispelled by truths and lies are laid bare by facts. Compared with the hearsay and
distortion in the so-called Act, those who have actually visited Xinjiang have more say on the
autonomous region’s real conditions.
Since the end of 2018, over 1,000 people, including foreign diplomatic envoys to China from
nearly 100 countries and regions, UN officials, Geneva-based senior diplomats of various
countries, as well as more than 70 groups (or delegations) from political parties, civil society
organizations, news media, and religious organizations of various countries have visited
Xinjiang’s vocational education and training centers. They believe that the vocational education
and training centers are in keeping with the purposes and principles of the UN to combat terrorism
and safeguard basic human rights, and have found experience of counterterrorism and de-
radicalization for the international society. They hold that the successful example of China is
worth learning from.
Terrorism and extremism are a common enemy of the human society. Therefore, the efforts to
combat them made by countries shall be free from double-standards, and must not be distorted in a
way that goes against international justice and human conscience.
The U.S. is also a victim to terrorism, and shall understand and support China’s counter-terrorism
and de-radicalization efforts. However, it is repeatedly interfering in China’s domestic affairs and
viciously attacking China’s efforts in this regard in the name of human right protection, which
certainly triggers the strong indignation and opposition of the Chinese people.
The U.S. had better reflect on its own institutional problems of human rights, and not make
troubles under the banner of human right protection. If it keeps going toward the wrong direction,
what lie ahead will only be discredit and self-damage.
