Certain Western countries in collusion with anti-China separatist forces have recently stepped up their effort in fabricating and spreading lies and rumors using the excuse of the so-called “assessment” on Xinjiang issued by the OHCHR for two years, in an attempt to smear and slander China and interfere in China’s internal affairs. China expresses its strong and firm opposition against such acts.

China has stated repeatedly and in a clear manner its position on the so-called “assessment”. This “assessment” draws its conclusions from disinformation and lies made by anti-China forces, and distorts maliciously China’s laws and policies. It is neither mandated by the Human Rights Council nor agreed to by the Chinese government, and is therefore illegal, null and void. It seriously violates the principles of universality, objectivity, non-selectivity and non-politicization, undermines the credibility and impartiality of the OHCHR, and poisons the atmosphere for dialogue and cooperation in multilateral human rights work. The 51st session of the Human Rights Council has already rejected the Xinjiang-related draft decision, and nearly 100 countries have repeatedly and in various ways spoken to support China's just position on Xinjiang-related issues at multiple sessions of the Council. This speaks volumes about who stands on the same side with the international community and who does not.

China always puts the people front and center in all its work, views respecting and protecting human rights as an important part of governance, and has made historic achievements in this aspect. People of all ethnic groups in China are equal and their legitimate rights and interests are fully protected. Today’s Xinjiang enjoys social stability and economic growth and people of all ethnic groups there live happy lives, with all their fundamental rights and freedoms fully protected by law. This is a simple fact that anyone without bias can see.

Certain countries continue to fabricate and spread lies about Xinjiang, and keep hyping up Xinjiang-related issues at the Human Rights Council, but they never mention serious human rights violations committed by themselves and their allies. They call themselves "human rights defenders," but choose to stand on the opposite side of the international community by turning a blind eye to the grave suffering of the Palestinian people. They ignore serious problems in their own countries including gun violence, drug abuse and racial discrimination, letting the human rights and dignity of their own people be trampled upon, but choose to export their ideology abroad under the guise of "human rights," inciting color revolutions, interfering wantonly in the internal affairs of other countries and imposing indiscriminately unilateral coercive measures that violate the human rights of countless people in developing countries. These countries are nothing but human rights violators, and their despicable acts are destined to be subjected to the just judgement of the international community.

Issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong are China's core interests that brook no interference by any external forces. China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, interests and dignity. China urges relevant countries to take a hard look at their own records, to immediately stop politicizing human rights issues, to seize from interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and to make tangible contributions to the protection and promotion of human rights around the world. China stands ready to have constructive exchanges and cooperation with multilateral human rights institutions, including the OHCHR on the basis of mutual respect. At the same time, we hope that multilateral human rights institutions will fulfill their mandates in a fair and objective manner, respecting the sovereignty of all countries, respecting objective facts and engaging in constructive dialogues and cooperation with all countries, and refrain from being used by political forces.