Question: Recently, based on its 2022 annual human rights and democracy report, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office provided an updated assessment of the 32 “priority countries”, which includes baseless comments on China’s human rights regarding Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong. What is your comment?
Embassy Spokesperson: The relevant update distorts facts, fabricates pretexts and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. We firmly oppose this.
It must be pointed out that issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong are purely China's internal affairs, which brook no foreign interference.
China puts the people front and center, striving to realise, safeguard, and advance the fundamental interests of all our people. We have found a path for the development of human rights that is in keeping with the times and the conditions of China. We have made historic progress in advancing human rights. This is a fact that every fair-minded person would recognise.
Currently, Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic development, ethnic solidarity, religious harmony and improved livelihoods. People of all ethnic groups enjoy freedom of religious belief under the law. The languages and cultures of the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are protected and promoted.
Today, Xinjiang is in its best period of development in history. The government's policies in the region are wholeheartedly endorsed by people of all ethnic groups.
Over 70 years after the peaceful liberation, Xizang enjoys a booming economy, harmonious and stable society, and effective protection and promotion of its cultural heritage.
According to the actual needs and to ensure all children’s equal right to education, local governments there have set up boarding schools.
Whether to go to the boarding school or not is up to the students and their parents. These schools offer courses on traditional culture, such as Tibetan language and literature and folk dance, and students can wear ethnic costumes at school. Criticising Xizang on boarding schools is completely unjustified.
Regarding Hong Kong, since the implementation of the National Security Law, social stability in the city has been restored and development has returned to the right track.
Freedom of the press and speech in Hong Kong is also better protected in a safe, stable environment under the rule of law.
Jimmy Lai was a major plotter and instigator of the anti-China riots in Hong Kong, who blatantly colluded with external forces to endanger national security. The Hong Kong SAR government's prosecution of Jimmy Lai is an entirely just act, which is lawful, reasonable, and legitimate.
We urge the UK side to take a hard look at its own serious problem of human rights abuses, stop its political manipulation of the human rights issues, and stop slandering China and interfering in China's internal affairs.
