The New York Times reported on November 16 that it obtained what it called “leaked files” and vilified China's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts in Xinjiang. In response, the spokesperson of the people’s government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region issued a statement to refute it.
The spokesperson stated Xinjiang is the main battlefield for China to fight terrorism and eradicate extremism. From 1990 through the end of 2016, thousands of violent terrorist incidents occurred in Xinjiang, causing a large number of casualties of innocent people and massive property losses. Under such grave circumstances, Xinjiang has struck hard on violent terrorist crimes in accordance with the law, while attaching great importance to addressing the root cause of the problem, and doing its utmost to protect the basic human rights of its citizens against terrorism and extremism. The practice, welcomed and supported by people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, conforms to not only Chinese law but also the common values promoted by the international community. For the past 35 months in a row, Xinjiang has not seen a single case of violent terrorist attack, and the basic human rights of the people of all ethnic groups, including their rights to life, health and development, have been effectively protected. The Chinese government has fully informed the international community of the measures and achievements of Xinjang’s efforts in combating terrorism and safeguarding stability. Since the end of 2018, over a thousand representatives in more than 70 groups from foreign countries or regions, international organizations, the media, religious groups and academic circles have visited Xinjiang, all commending Xinjiang's experience in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization as worth learning from.
The anti-china forces in the West and the "Three Evil Forces" (terrorist, separatist and extremist forces) at home and abroad are unwilling to see the stable and harmonious development in Xinjiang, and have repeatedly fabricated news to attack and smear Xinjiang. The report “Absolutely No Mercy: Leaked Files Expose How China Organized Mass Detentions of Muslims” by the New York Times is full of nonsense and lies, and is yet another instance of complete fabrication with vicious intentions by hostile forces at home and abroad in collusion with each other.
Fabricating news to attract attention is an old trick of the New York Times, which precipitated it into crisis of credibility. Now it is again playing the same old trick, which is not worth refuting. This despicable act will certainly be despised by people of insight of the international community.