Xinjiang human rights used as a political tool by the west

Published: September 29,2022

By Gerald Mbanda

It is a common song within US and westerngovernments to claim that China has committed human rights violations against the people of Xinjiang, but at the bottom of the matter, one would ask if the US and the west are more concerned about the lives of the people in China than the Chinese authorities themselves. This is where the first lie comes from. There is an African proverb which says that, “if someone has more sympathy to a child than the mother of the child, better known that that person wants to eat the child.”

The west claiming to speak of the people of Xinjiang is not genuine; it’s the usual hypocritical way the west uses to tarnish the image of countries they perceive as against their “democratic and human rights values.” Such countries must be punished and discredited before the international community. China has been perceived as an enemy of US rather than a competitor. 

The fact that China is gaining influence day by day as the second largest economy, over taking US in a number of fields, this global dominance is seen as a threat to US hegemony. China therefore, must be pulled down using all sorts of claims including human rights abuse. Human right is used as a political tool for manipulation to bring down China rather than genuine concern of the wellbeing of the Chinese people.  

Among the human rights abuse talked about is the harassment of Muslims and denial to practice their faith. To the contrary, statistics show that in 1984, there were 9,000mosques in Xinjiang, while today, there are more than 24,000 a number which is more than twice the total number of Mosques in the US, France, Britain and Germany combined. Today, the total numbers of mosques in China exceed 35,000, which is an indication that China does not only respect I slam and Muslims, but also safeguards their religious rights. 

At the ongoing 51^st session of the Human Rights Council, which is taking place in Geneva fromSeptember 12 to October 7, 2022, the US and a small group of Western counties, including Britain, Canada, Denmark Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden presented a draft proposal to hold a special debate over the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang region at the council’s next session in early 2023, according to media reports. 

During the same session a representative from Pakistanspeaking on behalf of nearly 70countries, made a joint statement at the Human Rights Council to call on other countries to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs on Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang regions. 

The group of countries also opposed the politicization of human rights and double standards, or interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. Again, more than 20 countries also made statements to support China’s stance at the Human Rights Council, making the total number that voiced understanding and support for China to nearly 100countries. 

Gerald Mbanda is a Researcher and publisher on China and Africa.  

For comments or opinion write to us on info@africachinareview.com