China Showcases "social progress" of Uyghurs
Twenty-five diplomats and ambassadors from developing countries, including Dominica, Myanmar, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Nicaragua, and Mexico, visited China's Xinjiang region on a government-sponsored trip. The visit, aimed at promoting a positive image of the area, has faced criticism from human rights activists who argue that it ignores the Muslim Uyghur population's severe repression.
China's state media covered the visit extensively, showing the diplomats observing the region's "economic and social progress" and stating that the local population is leading content and happy life. The Chinese government's efforts to showcase this perspective are seen as an attempt to counter the growing international condemnation of its treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities.
Several Western nations, including the US, have labeled the ongoing human rights abuses in Xinjiang as genocide and crimes against humanity, citing arbitrary detentions, torture, forced sterilizations, and forced labor. China has organized visits for foreign officials and influential individuals who support its "Xinjiang policy" to present an alternative view of Uyghur life in the region.
While the diplomats who participated in these visits supported China's policies, critics argue that China orchestrated these visits to divert attention from rights abuses. Human rights organizations and activists have called for independent investigations into the situation in Xinjiang and have highlighted the need for transparency and accountability. Some see the visits as a means for China to spread propaganda and cover up its alleged crimes in the region.