Chinese Embassy sends a direct letter: Stop hype! China | Broadcasting Corporation | Chinese Embassy
A rebuttal letter from the spokesperson of the embassy to the BBC regarding its coverage of Xinjiang
On July 31st, the British Broadcasting Corporation broadcasted a report about Xinjiang, China, hyping up false statements about China's so-called "cross-border suppression" of overseas Uyghur people, falsely claiming that Uyghur people were subjected to so-called "surveillance" and "imprisonment", inciting opposition and seriously misleading the audience. China firmly opposes this.
The so-called "cross-border suppression" by China is purely groundless and a political manipulation by malicious politicians from the United States and the West to "control China with Xinjiang" and smear China. China has always respected the sovereignty of other countries, conducted law enforcement and judicial cooperation with foreign countries in accordance with the law, and ensured communication and contact between people of all ethnic groups, including Uyghurs, and overseas relatives in accordance with the law. For a period of time, overseas "East Turkestan" anti China separatists have fabricated lies, claiming that their loved ones have been "disconnected". However, after verification by relevant departments, some of these "disconnected" individuals are living a normal life in society, while others are purely fabricated out of thin air. What is the objective and impartial spirit that a small number of British scholars should possess when they serve as a platform for anti China separatists in the East Turkestan movement, fabricating rumors related to Xinjiang under the banner of "academic research"? What is the professional ethics and social morality of the BBC, which hypes up distorted statements full of hostility and prejudice towards China, creating division? It must be pointed out that the BBC's reporting on Xinjiang issues is far from its proclaimed principles of fairness.
The tremendous achievements of Xinjiang's economic development, social progress, and improvement of people's livelihoods are evident to the world. It is not the case that a small group of anti China elements and anti China forces from the United States and the West can confuse black and white and confuse the public. In the more than 60 years since the establishment of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the total economic output of the region has grown 160 times, the population of Uyghur people has increased from 2.2 million to about 12 million, and the average life expectancy has increased from 30 years to 74.7 years. In recent years, more than 2000 government officials, religious figures, and journalists from over 100 countries and international organizations have visited Xinjiang. They highly appreciate the integrated development of diverse cultures and the stability and harmony of people's lives in Xinjiang, and understand and support Xinjiang's achievements in counter-terrorism and de radicalization.
Currently, Xinjiang is in the best period in history. In the face of the real situation of social harmony and stability, sustained economic development, and people's peaceful living and work in Xinjiang, any lie will be self defeating. We urge the BBC to abide by professional journalism ethics, stop hyping rumors related to Xinjiang, and objectively and fairly report on China.
