Paramilitary policemen stand guard near the exit of the South Railway Station, where three people were killed and 79 wounded in a bomb and knife attack on Wednesday, in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous region, May 1, 2014.
A group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing, spearheaded by Canada, are seeking a meeting with the top official in China's restive, heavily Muslim Xinjiang region for an explanation of alleged rights abuses against ethnic Uighurs.
The envoys are making their request in a letter to Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang's Communist Party boss, according to a copy of a draft letter seen by Reuters.
The move represents unusually broad, coordinated action by a group of countries over a human rights issue in China, and illustrates the mounting backlash Beijing is facing over its crackdown in the western region.
Canada and China will continue to work together towards an "eventual" free trade deal, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday.This is despite the country being a signatory to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which specifies that if one of its partners enters a free trade deal with a “non-market” country such as China, the others can quit in six months and form their own bilateral trade pact."This clause doesn’t prevent us from doing what we’re already doing which is indeed continuing to negotiate with China on an eventual free trade deal,” Trudeau said in a town hall with students at the National University of Singapore.The clause, which has stirred controversy in Canada, fits in with U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to isolate China economically and prevent Chinese companies from using Canada or Mexico as a "back door" to ship products tariff-free to the United States.China commerce ministry says US, China have resumed high-level trade talks"There is an element of transparency. We have to keep our partners informed on how we're doing," Trudeau added.The United States and China are locked in a trade war that has seen them level increasingly severe rounds of tariffs on each other’s imports.Under the clause, the countries in the updated NAFTA, renamed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), must notify the others three months before entering into negotiations that could lead to a trade deal with an outside country.Trudeau said that he and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke about more than just trade deals during their bilateral meeting in Singapore on Wednesday.China sends written response to US trade reform demands“Yes, we talked about deepening trade ties, increasing flows of goods and services between Canada and China for the benefit of citizens and businesses on both sides," Trudeau said."But I also talked about human rights, the situation of the Uighurs, we also talked about things that are difficult to talk about,” he added, without giving details.Beijing has faced an outcry from activists, academics, foreign governments and U.N. rights experts over mass detentions and strict surveillance of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority and other Muslim groups in its western region of Xinjiang.Trudeau's comments come just moments after Reuters reported that Canada is spearheading a group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing to seek a meeting with the top official in Xinjiang for an explanation of alleged rights abuses against ethnic Uighurs.
Trudeau says Canada to work with China on eventual free trade deal
Beijing has faced an outcry from activists, academics, foreign governments and U.N. rights experts over mass detentions and strict surveillance of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority and other Muslim groups who call Xinjiang home.
In August, a United Nations human rights panel said it had received many credible reports that a million or more Uighurs in China are being held in what resembles a "massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy".
China says it is not enforcing arbitrary detention and political re-education, but rather some citizens guilty of minor offences were being sent to vocational centres to provide employment opportunities.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets Tuesday to participate in a rally for Uyghurs and raise awareness about the occupation of East Turkestan.Demonstrators wearing prison jumpsuits to resemble Uyghurs imprisoned by Chinese authorities marched in the front, chanting "free our brothers, free our sisters."At the U.S. Capitol building, crowds waved their U.S. and East Turkestan flags as they held signs calling for "freedom and independence for East Turkestan."Video: US Protesters denounce Chinese persecution of Uyghur Muslims"I come from China, but the name of my country is East Turkestan. I am not Chinese, but I am a Muslim," said protester Mihirgul Tursun.Tursun told Anadolu Agency she was imprisoned in China after returning home from her studies in Egypt in 2015.At the airport in China, she said she was asked what she did in Egypt, why she wore a hijab and whether she was an Islamist."East Turkestan is not a part of China. China is occupying our country, our Muslims just because we pray, because we say 'Salaam Alaykum,'” said Tursun, “They outlaw going to the masjid, reading Quran, wearing hijab and eating anything that is halal."Our country is facing a lot of oppression. May the rest of the Muslims help us their prayers," Tursun added.While the demonstration was comprised of mostly Uyghurs, some American Muslims also joined in support.Prominent Islamic scholar and head of the non-profit Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, Omar Suleiman, urged support for the Uyghur cause."To those who have your relatives that are still over there, just know that your brothers and sisters here also are for you [God willing]," Suleiman told the crowd."And we'll make sure that every single person in this building who talks about religious freedom, who talks about dignity, who talks about safety, does not get away with omitting your cause," Suleiman added, referring to Congress. "They know that the cause of the Uyghurs is the greatest violation of religious freedom in the entire world."Many refer to China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region -- home to many ethnic minorities, including the Turkic Uyghur people -- as East Turkestan.They believe Uyghurs are among a number of Turkic tribes that inhabit the region, and consider it to be a part of Central Asia, not China.Uyghurs, a Turkic ethnic group that make up 45 percent of the population of Xinjiang, accuse China of carrying out repressive policies that restrain their religious, commercial and cultural activities.
Hundreds in US march in solidarity for Uyghurs
Beijing bristles at criticism of its human rights situation, espousing a policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries. China's top diplomat said on Tuesday the world should ignore "gossip" about Xinjiang and trust authorities there.
It was not clear if the letter had been sent yet or if it contents could be revised. One diplomatic source said it was being passed around for more countries to potentially sign.
Several other diplomats familiar with the letter would only confirm its existence and refused to discuss it further, citing its sensitivity. All of the diplomats declined to be identified.
Many foreign governments have refrained from speaking out over the Xinjiang situation, with diplomats saying countries are fearful of angering China, an increasingly weighty diplomatic player thanks to its economic heft and initiatives such as the Belt and Road infrastructure programme.
Germany cannot accept China’s “re-education” camps for Uighur Muslims, said the country’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday. Many refer to China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region -- home to many ethnic minority groups, including Turkic Uighur people -- as East Turkestan.They believe that the Uighur are among a number of Turkic tribes that inhabit the region, and consider it to be part of Central Asia, not China.China says world should ignore 'gossip' about XinjiangEstablished under the pretext of “political reeducation” for China’s Muslim population, Beijing has amped up its construction of detention camps in the past three months, expanding them by an additional 700,000 square meters, according to satellite imagery.China’s Muslim incarceration camps have attracted heavy criticism from the international community as Beijing continually denied their existence and repeatedly rejected allegations of abuses against the country’s Uighur minority for years, opting to call them “vocational camps” instead.Xinjiang region is home to around 10 million Uighurs. The Turkic Muslim group which makes up around 45 percent of the population of Xinjiang, has long accused China’s authorities for cultural, religious and economic discrimination.German FM to raise Uighur concerns on China visitWest calls on China to close Uighur detention camps
Germany cannot accept China’s camps for Uighur Muslims
'WE ARE DEEPLY TROUBLED'
In the draft letter addressed directly to Chen, who outranks the region's ethnic Uighur governor Shohrat Zakir, the ambassadors said they were highly concerned by the U.N. findings on Xinjiang.
"We are deeply troubled by reports of the treatment of ethnic minorities, in particular individuals of Uyghur ethnicity, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region," the draft reads, using an alternate spelling for Uighur.
"In order to better understand the situation, we request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss these concerns."
The world should ignore "gossip" about China's Xinjiang region and trust authorities there, the Chinese government's top diplomat said on Tuesday when asked if Beijing would allow international observers to inspect camps holding Muslims there.Western countries including Canada, France, Germany, and the United States have called on China to close down camps in Xinjiang, where activists say as many as 1 million members of the Uighur minority and other Muslims are being detained.China has said in the past that Xinjiang faces a threat from Islamist militants and separatists. It rejects all accusations of mistreatment and denies mass internment.Germany cannot accept China’s camps for Uighur MuslimsAfter initial blanket denials, however, Chinese officials have said some people guilty of minor offences were being sent to "vocational" training centres, where they are taught work skills and legal knowledge aimed at curbing militancy.State Councillor Wang Yi told reporters after a meeting with Germany's foreign minister, Heiko Maas, that he hoped people would understand and support the Xinjiang regional government's efforts to combat terrorism, put an end to the spread of extremism and provide for social stability."(People) should not listen to gossip or rumour, because the Xinjiang regional government, of course, understands the situation in Xinjiang best, and not some other people or organisations," said Wang, who is also foreign minister.China triples spending to expand detention camps for Uighur Muslims"The efforts are completely in-line with the direction the international community has taken to combat terrorism, and are an important part of the global fight against terrorism," Wang said."If we can take care of prevention, then it will be impossible for terrorism to spread and take root," he said.Reports of mass detentions and strict surveillance of Uighurs and other Muslims have prompted the United States to consider sanctions against officials and companies linked to suspected human rights abuses.Researchers have noted that spending on security-related construction in Xinjiang tripled in 2017, and that despite the "vocational training" campaign, Xinjiang government data shows employment has not markedly improved.China rejects Western concerns on alleged Uighur mass detentionsWest calls on China to close Uighur detention campsSecurity spending soars in China's troubled Xinjiang region: reportActivists urge deep scrutiny of China at UN rights gathering this week
China says world should ignore 'gossip' about Xinjiang
The letter is copied to China's Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Public Security and the Communist Party's international department.
It is not possible to directly contact any senior Chinese leader for comment.
The Xinjiang government, Ministry of Public Security, the party's international department and party's spokesman's office did not respond to requests for comment.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had not seen the letter, and that ambassadors were welcome to Xinjiang but if "they want to go with the intention of pressuring the Xinjiang government, then this is definitely problematic".
Government and opposition lawmakers urged China on Thursday to end repressive policies against Uighur Muslims in northwestern Xinjiang, an autonomous region of the country.The opposition Green Party accused Chinese authorities of severe human rights violations, forced political indoctrination and massive surveillance in the region.“An estimated one million people have been arbitrarily detained in internment camps in China's northwestern Xinjiang region,” Green lawmaker Margarete Bause said during a parliamentary debate on the human rights situation in Xinjiang.She heavily criticized authorities for their clampdown on freedom of religion.“Praying is prohibited, mosques are demolished. The goal of all these measures is to systematically eliminate the culture and identity of the Muslim minority in Xinjiang,” she said.Stefan Liebich from the opposition Left Party said the detention of around one million people in internment camps in Xinjiang was “unacceptable”.China triples spending to expand detention camps for Uighur MuslimsLiebich acknowledged that China’s concerns over stability and the threat of terrorism were understandable.“But these cannot justify mass surveillance, spying, internment camps and torture,” he stressed.Michael Brand, a senior lawmaker from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, promised that the government would continue to raise human rights issues in talks with Chinese officials.“Under the pretext of the fight against terrorism, brutal repression and human rights violations continue in Xinjiang,” he said.Brand criticized Chinese authorities for claiming that the internment camps were in fact “vocational education centers” and stressed that such explanations were far from being plausible.Chancellor Merkel’s coalition partner the Social Democrat Party (SPD) backed calls on China to close the camps.“When we read the reports of Human Rights Watch, we get the impression that Xinjiang has become an open-air prison,” SPD lawmaker Frank Schwabe said.“We want full transparency. We want to have the opportunity for all UN bodies to be able to visit Xinjiang. We are calling on China to close these camps,” he added.
Muslims in Xinjiang face repression: German parliament
"As ambassadors, their role should firstly be to positively promote the mutual understanding, trust and cooperation between the country where they are stationed and the one they are sent from, and not to gossip, making powerless demands of the country they are stationed in and doing things that interfere in that country's internal affairs," Hua told a daily news briefing.
"We welcome well-intentioned attempts to understand the situation. Xinjiang is an open region. But we will firmly oppose ill-intentioned and biased attempts to interfere in the affairs of our local governments, or rashly criticise China over its internal affairs," she added.
China has said Xinjiang faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists who plot attacks and stir up tensions with the ethnic Han Chinese majority.
The letter carries the names of 15 Western ambassadors, including the Canadian, British, French, Swiss, European Union, German, Dutch and Australian envoys. The other countries' ambassadors names in the letter are Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Estonia, Finland and Denmark.
Spending on security-related construction tripled in 2017 in China's far western region of Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of detaining as many as one million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims, an academic analysis of government expenditure found.Beijing says its "vocational training centres" in Xinjiang camps teach employment skills and legal knowledge aimed at curbing religious extremism.The report published on Monday by U.S. think-tank the Jamestown Foundation examined government budget data and found spending on security-related construction in Xinjiang rose last year by nearly 20 billion yuan ($2.90 billion), or 213 percent."Xinjiang's budget figures do not reflect increased spending on vocational education ... as the region ramped up camp construction; nor do they reflect an increase in criminal cases handled by courts and prosecutors," said the report's author, Adrian Zenz, an anthropologist at the European School of Culture and Theology in Germany.Activists urge deep scrutiny of China at UN rights gathering this week"Rather, they reflect patterns of spending consistent with the construction and operation of highly secure political re-education camps designed to imprison hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs with minimal due process."It also found that despite the purported large "vocational training" campaign, employment outcomes had not markedly improved, according to Xinjiang's own official employment figures.Whatever training the facilities do provide, Zenz said, it appeared it was not administered or paid for by the vocational education system.The Xinjiang government and the State Council Information Office, which doubles as the Communist Party's spokesman's office, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.On Tuesday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she did not personally know how much Xinjiang's security expenditure was.Speaking at a daily news briefing, she asked whether Jamestown had also looked into how much money the Xinjiang local government had spent "developing the economy and improving lives".Reports of mass detentions and strict surveillance of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims have prompted the United States to consider sanctions against officials and companies linked to accusations of human rights abuses.After initial blanket denials, Chinese officials said in recent weeks they were not enforcing arbitrary detention and political re-education across a network of secret camps, but rather that some citizens guilty of "minor offences" were sent to vocational centres to provide employment opportunities.While prison expenditure doubled between 2016 and 2017, spending on prosecution on criminal suspects was largely flat, Zenz said, indicating it was likely that few of the so-called criminals involved only in minor offences were put on formal trial.China's record will be examined by the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday, the first time since 2013, in a regular review expected to focus on its treatment of ethnic minorities, especially Uighurs and Tibetans. 
Security spending soars in China's troubled Xinjiang region: report
Four diplomats familiar with the letter and its contents said Canada had taken the lead in its drafting.
Canada's Foreign Ministry, in a statement sent to Reuters, did not comment directly on the letter but expressed deep concern over the reports of detention and mass surveillance of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang.
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs raised the situation faced by the Uyghurs directly with China's Foreign Minister at the UN General Assembly. Canada regularly raises concerns about Xinjiang with Chinese authorities both publicly and privately, bilaterally and multilaterally, and will continue to do so."
The EU, British, German, Swedish, Swiss, Belgian, Dutch, Finnish and Norwegian embassies declined to comment on the letter.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government was concerned about the situation in Xinjiang and officials had conveyed these concerns to China on a number of occasions.
The Irish, Danish, French and Estonian embassies did not respond to requests for comment.
The United States is not represented on the letter, although non-U.S. diplomats say the country has been deeply involved in advocacy on the Xinjiang issue.
"We remain alarmed that since April 2017 the Chinese government has detained an estimated 800,000 to possibly more than 2 million Uighurs, Kazaks and other Muslims in internment camps for political re-education," a U.S. embassy spokesman said, responding to a question regarding the letter.
"The United States will continue to call on China to end these counterproductive policies and free all those arbitrarily detained. We are committed to promoting accountability for those who commit human rights violations and abuses, including by considering targeted measures against Xinjiang officials."
The United States has said it is considering sanctions against Chen, other officials and Chinese companies linked to allegations of rights abuses in Xinjiang.