NEWS//In defense of human rights in China
"For a hundred years, the CPC has always put people first, applying the principle of universality of human rights in the context of the national conditions," says China's State Council Information Office. On June 24, 2021, that office issued a white paper on the practice of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in respecting and protecting human rights.
China’s white paper
"[China] regards the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights, and believes that living a life of contentment is the ultimate human right," the white paper claims.
The white paper stands in contrast to international accusations that China is engaged in genocide against its Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang Province and that it is employing similar tactics in Tibet.
Western disinformation
Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the United Kingdom, labels these charges disinformation.
During an online forum on June 22 that commemorated the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Zheng stated, "While leading the Chinese people to achieve national liberation and development, the CPC has been subjected to intentional slandering, isolation, and attacks from anti-Communist and anti-China forces. However, we were not intimidated and we did not buckle under the pressure. We remained committed to doing the right thing and following the path of our own choice because we firmly believe that ours is a just cause, and a just cause is invincible. History has proved this to be true and will again prove it true."
He asserted that those behind this disinformation campaign "turned a blind eye to Xinjiang's economic progress, ethnic solidarity, and social stability, and stuck a 'genocide' label on China's justified measures to tackle terrorism and radicalization, and to maintain social stability."
Economic sanctions
On June 24, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said China "will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies" that may be hurt by Western sanctions imposed because of the Uyghur situation. "China strongly condemns the United States imposing sanctions on Chinese companies based on lies and false information. The so-called 'forced labor' and 'genocide' in Xinjiang are the biggest lie of the century. The United States abused its "entity list" to suppress Xinjiang's photovoltaic industry, based on fabrications. Such actions not only violate international trade rules and the principles of the market economy, but also undermine the global industrial and supply chains."