Chinese academics have rejected Western criticism of population policies and allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. They say the population of Xinjiang continues to grow and livelihoods are improving. Liu Yang has more.
Retaliating with evidence. Experts from Xinjiang University and Southwest University of Political Science and Law say Xinjiang implements the family planning policy following China’s law and vigorously protects all ethnic groups’ human rights, especially the Uygur people.
They also said claims by German scholar Adrian Zenz that Xinjiang’s population growth has dropped sharply are false and refuted his claims that the region has a forced sterilization and even a genocide policy.
PROFESSOR XIADIYA YIBULAYIN Xinjiang University “The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the development of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. The medical and health system in Xinjiang has greatly improved the physical fitness of the people of all ethnic groups, and the population has continued to grow. Between 2010 and 2018 alone, the Uygur population increased by 2.54 million, an increase of up to 25 percent.”
Adrian Zenz has said 80-percent of the placement of intrauterine devices – or IUDs, a female contraceptive – in China in 2018 occurred in Xinjiang. But Chinese experts revealed data showing the number of new IUD placements in Xinjiang in 2018 was slightly over 328-thousand. And the number nationwide exceeded 3.77 million. That means Xinjiang only accounted for 8.7 percent of the country’s total IUD placements. The Chinese experts also cited China’s poverty eradication efforts in defence of human rights in the region.
LIU YANG Beijing “Experts point to the importance of the anti-poverty drive in providing secure employment to the people of Xinjiang. This means more money is being invested into local industries and enterprises to create more jobs. Assistance is also being given to farmers to expand into e-commerce and promote the sale of their products, such as different varieties of fruit.”
MENG QINGTAO Deputy Dean, Institute of Human Rights Southwest University of Political Science and Law “Xinjiang has achieved human rights protection by helping enterprises develop. For example, adjusting the industrial structure to increase employment opportunities. The integrated construction of some towns, enterprises, and industrial parks in Xinjiang has increased earnings for low-income families.”
There are more than 40 newly built industrial parks in Xinjiang. And more than 5 thousand foreign enterprises have invested and settled in the area. These efforts have helped to bring jobs to over 2 million of Xinjiang’s rural residents. Liu Yang CGTN BJ.
Courtesy: CGTN
