China Affirms It Will Not Accept Foreign Parties To Investigate Uighurs

Mamat Mamatmin (four left) as imam of the Konashehar Mosque, Moyu City, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, giving a press statement in Beijing (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Xinjiang Autonomous Region (XUAR) Government, China, has stated that it is open to the arrival of foreign parties. The condition is, the origin of the arrival is not for investigative purposes.

"We have a principle that in essence will not accept the so-called 'investigation' because we think (we are) guilty," said XUAR's Deputy Director General of Publications for the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), Xu Guixiang, in Beijing, Monday, February 1.

His party invited foreign parties, including officials of the new United States (US) government to know the real people who live in the southwestern region of mainland China.

"We invite foreigners from all countries, including officials of the new US administration to visit Xinjiang and see the real situation," he said.

At the press conference held for the second time at the International Press Center of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing in 2021, Xu was accompanied by XUAR spokesman Elijan Anayit, Honorary Chair of the Xinjiang Textile Industry Association Liu Yanning, Deputy Director General of XUAR Agricultural Bureau Gulnar Uful, and priest Moyu Mamat Mamatmin City Mosque.

There are also businessmen, garment sector workers, and graduates of the Xinjiang vocational camp. Liu Yinning said that the textile industry in Xinjiang has grown rapidly since 2014, so it absorbs a lot of workforce, especially women.

Xinjiang textile mills are a major supplier of garments to well-known brands in Europe, the US and Japan as they are renowned for their quality. But the issue of forced labor against the Uighur Muslim ethnic minority group led the US to stop importing cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang. Followed by Canada and England.

"There is no forced labor. We are paid a minimum of 5,000 yuan (Rp. 10.8 million) per month. Our mess is also equipped with air conditioning, television, just like a hotel. In our factory there is also a halal canteen," said Akbar Ablat (27), an employee. a textile company in Aksu City that also gave a press statement which was attended by dozens of Chinese national media and representatives of foreign media.