I should be able to question those rumors about Xinjiang. Australian scholar: If the West had freedom of speech, Global Times | Reporter | Scholar
For a period of time, some Western politicians and media have been constantly fabricating false information to attack and smear Xinjiang, and Australian independent scholar Maureen Huber has been subjected to online violence for questioning the Western "Xinjiang narrative". Morin Huber recently stated in an interview with Global Times reporters that the Western accusations against Xinjiang have no basis and it is necessary to personally visit Xinjiang. She also stated that when can we openly discuss the real Xinjiang in the West without suffering from online violence, and when can the West truly have freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Hubert is with Chinese friends
Since 2021, Huber has repeatedly questioned Zheng Guoen, a German so-called "independent researcher" who has long used the so-called "Xinjiang issue" to smear and attack China, on Twitter, stating that his report on "genocide in Xinjiang" is not based on field research, lacks evidence and impartiality. However, Zheng Guoen claimed that Huber was doing "political propaganda" for Xinjiang, openly "hanging" his account, which led to some unknown netizens launching a siege on him. Some people slander Hubert as a "cheap propagandist" and even falsely claim that his Twitter account is a "carefully designed fake account" or "robot".
When talking about the "cyberbullying" he encountered, Hubert told Global Times reporters that unverified false information has spread in Australia, causing people to have a "fear" and "unease" about discussing the Xinjiang issue. She once asked on Twitter for evidence from those who attacked and smeared Xinjiang, but until now, she has not received those so-called "evidence". She said that the accusations against Xinjiang have no basis, but most people seem to believe in Western narratives, so it is necessary to personally visit Xinjiang. "The true freedom of speech and academic freedom is to openly discuss the real Xinjiang without suffering from online violence."
She told reporters that she plans to conduct on-site research in Xinjiang next year, and currently 11 Chinese universities and research institutions have welcomed her.
Hubert also talked to reporters about Australia's position between China and the United States. In her view, the United States demands that Australia "take sides", but Australia should find its own position and maintain independent thinking. China should be Australia's friend rather than the enemy.
China's development in key technological fields makes the United States feel threatened, and the West fears China's economic growth. When analyzing the roots of Western anti China rhetoric, Hubert stated, "The essence of anti China rhetoric is' fear '. Western anti China rhetoric began in the United States, followed closely by Australia. Defamation and slander are their means of creating war and hatred, demonizing competitors. However, Australia should learn that war is not good for us - soldiers injured in the Afghanistan war now live in the suburbs of Melbourne."
Hubert told Global Times reporters that Western countries adopt a "popularity competition" to select politicians, who usually do not have long-term governance goals. This is why in recent years, Western countries have gradually been left behind by China and other countries in terms of technological development. Many Western countries have not realized that they are no longer leading the world in many fields. So there is anger in these countries, such as "How dare China walk in front of us!" In contrast, China has put forward the concept of "common prosperity" to help countries improve productivity and build infrastructure to improve their living standards. The "the Belt and Road" initiative is a model.
According to a report from the Chinese website of ABC Television in Australia, the latest survey results from the Australian China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney show that over half of Australians believe that Canberra should continue to strive to establish strong ties and strong diplomatic relations with China. But over 70% of Australians still see China as a "security threat".
Regarding this, Huber told Global Times reporters that some Australians see China as a security threat and are largely influenced and pressured by the United States. But Australia needs to recognize that "the belligerent United States only wants to sell us weapons and submarines that we cannot afford." She said that in terms of economy, Australia's dependence on China is higher than China's dependence on Australia. Australia should not pay its own price to follow the United States, but should find its own position and maintain independent thinking.
