China’s northwest Xinjiang region remains a top issue at the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council. China’s delegation at the session is refuting allegations of genocide, forced labour, and religious suppression. Some experts have also criticized these narratives about Xinjiang.

Controversies of alleged violations against Uigurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang have risen, at the regular session of UN Human Rights Council. Researchers and activists from China, Pakistan and UK made a retort at a webinar on Friday.

Mr. Carlos Martinez, Independent Researcher and Political Activist: “It is deeply involved in the business of the new cold war and the militarization of the Pacific. These sources are absolutely not credible. They are organs of information warfare being deployed by the U.S. and its allies.”

Some say figures about Xinjiang’s development speak for themselves.

According to Mme. Xu Lvping, Vice-President of China NGO Network for International Exchanges, the living standards, health and education of ethnic groups have been widely improved. Thanks to the efforts of the people of all ethnic groups, Xinjiang has been free from violent terrorist cases for more than four consecutive years.

Speakers at the conference also disclosed the situation in Xinjiang based on their own experience there.

Mr. Muhammad Zamir Assadi, Journalist with Independent News Pakistan said: “I have spent a very good time in China as a journalist and experienced a high level of religious freedom for Muslims residing in various regions. I met with Muslims in various provinces of China who shared with us that the Chinese government is attaching equal importance to protecting the culture of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and citizens’ right to freedom of religious belief is also guaranteed.”

In fact, China has made it clear months ago, that it would welcome a UN visit to Xinjiang, but never an “investigation with a presumption of guilt.”

Mme. Pang Chunxue, Minister Counsellor, Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said: “Those who tell lies on Xinjiang are aimed at pursuing their own anti-China political agenda. They care nothing about facts and truth at all, nor did they actually do anything good to contribute to Xinjiang well-being.”

Experts believe central Asian countries should be responsible for ending political manipulation in the name of human rights defenders.

Mr. Sabah Aslam, Executive Director of the Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution said: “When it comes to our region, America or the western states that are the educators of the human rights, they forgot what is going on in India, with the minorities, what is going on in Kashmir. This is the time, the high time, that we can do maximum, because once America is out of this region, this is the time for the regional countries now to play their active role.”

At a recent session of the UN Human Rights Council, some countries such as Venezuela, South Sudan and the Maldives said they were opposed to external interference in China’s domestic affairs.

They said China has made strides in human rights, as representatives of some ethnic minorities spoke at the session. Those from Xinjiang shared how they were lifted out of poverty and guaranteed labour rights. Chinese delegates said that unilateral measures targeting Xinjiang infringe upon people’s rights and those of Chinese enterprises in the region. And they called for a stop to such infringements.