New Delhi: China remains silent on India’s abstention from the UNHRC vote on the human rights situation in Xinjiang. China has defended the repression of Uyghur Muslims and said its goal is to fight terrorism and separatism.
India abstained from voting on the Xinjiang issue at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday. Subsequently, India demanded that the rights of the people of the autonomous region be respected and guaranteed. It is also interesting to note that these comments come in the midst of an ongoing border dispute between India and China in eastern Ladakh.
“I listened to relevant reports. I would like to point out that Xinjiang-related issues are not related to human rights.” It is tackling violent terrorism, extremism and separatism, “Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said. also said in a press conference that there has not been a violent terrorist attack in Xinjiang for more than five consecutive years.
But Mao remained silent when reporters asked him what he had to say about India’s abstention from voting on a UNHRC resolution in Geneva calling for a discussion of concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang. After 17 members voted in favor and 19 members, including China, voted against, the 47-member council rejected the draft resolution to “discuss the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.” 11 countries including India, Brazil, Mexico and Ukraine abstained from the vote.
The draft resolution was presented by a core group consisting of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Co-sponsored by several states, including Turkey. China has faced harsh criticism over the treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. Human rights groups believe China is arbitrarily detaining up to one million Uighur Muslims in camps in the name of fighting religious extremism, PTI reported.
