Some Facts on the Xinjiang-Related Hot Issues
关于新疆热点问题的事实真相
Chinese Ambassador to Iceland Jin Zhijian
驻冰岛大使金智健
8 March 2021
2021年3月8日
Recently, some Icelandic officials and citizens showed concerns about Xinjiang-related issues, which had also been reported by the Icelandic media. Many of the relevant reports did not correspond to the reality. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the facts of some hot issues regarding Xinjiang, and hope you find these useful.
近来一些冰岛官员和民众对中国新疆问题表示关注，冰岛媒体近期也有不少关于新疆的报道，但其中许多描述与事实不符。我愿借此机会，就几个关于新疆的热点问题阐明事实真相，希望对大家有所帮助。
1. The establishment of vocational education and training centers is conducive attempt and proactive exploration for preventive counterterrorism and de-radicalization
一、设立教培中心是预防性反恐和去极端化的有益尝试和积极探索
From the end of 90s last century to 2016, Xinjiang suffered from terrorism and religious extremism, which also plagued the local people. Xinjiang established vocational education and training centers in accordance with the laws to prevent the escalation of violent terrorist activities. These centers were essentially the same as “community corrections” enforced in the US, the DDP (Desistance and Disengagement Programme) in the UK, and the de-radicalization centers in France, and were fully consistent with the principles and spirit of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. These centers were not so-called “concentration camps”. They delivered curricula that included standard spoken and written Chinese, understanding of the law, vocational skills, and de-radicalization. The trainees graduated after reaching the expected criteria. The human dignity, personal freedom and religious practice of trainees were protected by law. The centers were run as boarding facilities and trainees could go home and ask for leave to tend to personal businesses. Trainees could decide on their own whether to attend legitimate religious activities when they went home. By the end of October 2019, all trainees had completed their courses, secured employment, and started a better life. At present, there is no vocational education and training center in Xinjiang. There has been no violent terrorist case for more than four years in a row in Xinjiang，which proves that the preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures have already yielded good results.
新疆上世纪90年代末至2016年曾饱受恐怖主义和极端主义之苦，当地民众深受其害。为防止暴力恐怖活动升级，新疆地区几年前依法设立了职业技能教培中心，这一做法与美国推行“社区矫正”、英国设立DDP（转化和脱离项目）、法国去极端化中心本质上没有区别，符合《联合国全球反恐战略》等决议的原则和精神，绝非所谓“集中营”。教培中心设置了以学习国家通用语言文字、法律知识、职业技能以及去极端化为主要内容的教学课程，学员考核达标后即可结业。学员的人格尊严、人身自由和宗教习俗依法得到保护。中心实行寄宿制管理，学员可以回家，有事可以请假，信教学员回家时可自主决定是否参加合法宗教活动。2019年10月，教培中心学员已全部结业，实现稳定就业，过上更好的生活。目前，新疆没有教培中心。新疆4年多来未发生一起恐袭事件，事实证明反恐、去极端化的预防性举措取得积极成效。
2. Allegation of “ethnic cleansing against Uyghurs in Xinjiang” is the lie of the century and totally groundless
二、所谓“新疆存在针对维吾尔族的种族清洗”是毫无根据的世纪谎言
Before former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left his office, he released a statement that China has committed crimes against humanity and genocide against Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang. This allegation is based on flimsy lies concocted by anti-China scholar Adrian Zenz and Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which has long been funded by US government and arms dealers. Leading the charge in slandering and demonizing China, both of them have no credibility at all. Crimes against humanity and genocide are clearly-defined in international law. Such a thing has never happened, is not happening and will never happen in China. In fact, the Uyghur population increased by 25.04 percent from 2010 to 2018, higher than the increase of the whole Xinjiang population, which stood at 13.99 percent, and much higher than the growth rate of the Han population, which was 2 percent. The ethnic minorities enjoyed favorable treatment on the Chinese birth control policy. There is no so-called “forced sterilization” against Uyghur women. The life expectancy of Xinjiang residents grew from 30 to 72 years over the past six decades or so. Xinjiang now enjoys economic development and social peace while local people live a happy life. Languages, traditional cultures and customs of all ethnic minorities in Xinjiang have been well protected and inherited. In 2019, Xinjiang received over 200 million tourists. The region has invited diplomats, journalists and ordinary people from many countries, who have been deeply impressed by unity, amity and happiness among various ethnic groups as well as the scenic views of Xinjiang.
美国前国务卿蓬佩奥卸任前抛出所谓中国政府在新疆对维吾尔族和其他少数民族犯有“种族灭绝”和“反人类罪行”的指控，其主要依据是反华学者郑国恩以及长期接受美国政府和军火商资助的澳大利亚战略政策研究所（ASPI）报告，二者是丑化、妖魔化中国的急先锋，报告内容没有事实依据，漏洞百出，毫无信誉可言。国际法关于“种族灭绝”和“反人类罪”有明确定义，此类事件过去不曾、现在没有、将来也不会在中国发生。事实上新疆维吾尔族人口一直在持续增长，2010年至2018年维吾尔族人口增长25.04%，高于全疆人口13.99%的增幅，更远高于汉族人口2.0%的增幅。中国政府对包括维吾尔族在内的少数民族执行相对宽松的计划生育政策，不存在对维族妇女强制绝育的情况。过去60多年来，新疆地区人均预期寿命由30岁提升到72岁。新疆地区经济发展，社会祥和，人民生活幸福，少数民族的语言文字、传统文化、宗教信仰、风俗习惯得到很好保护和传承。2019年新疆接待游客数量超过2亿人次，多国外交官、记者和民众到访新疆，新疆的美丽风景和各族人民群众团结和睦的情景给其留下深刻印象。
3. There is no factual basis to the so-called “mass forced labor in Xinjiang”
三、所谓“新疆存在大规模强迫劳动”一说没有任何事实依据
This rumor comes from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Choice of impoverished people in southern Xinjiang to work in the mainland and increase incomes of their own volition is distorted as “forced labor”. In fact, workers from ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang have the freedom to choose their professions and locations of work. Their rights to enjoy remuneration, rest and leisure, occupational safety, social insurance, freedom of religious belief, speaking and writing languages of their own ethnic groups are protected by law. The government takes various measures to promote employment and builds employment information platforms to create conditions for satisfactory work and stable income of all ethnic groups. None of ethnic minority workers is forced to work outside the autonomous region. Certain people maliciously hype the so-called “forced labor” to deprive people in Xinjiang of their lawful right to pursue a better life through labor. What they want essentially is for Xinjiang to regress to close and backwardness, which goes against the will of people there.
这一谎言源自澳大利亚战略政策研究所，将南疆贫困民众前往中国内地务工就业、脱贫增收的自发行为歪曲为“强迫劳动”。事实上，新疆少数民族务工人员都有选择职业的自由，去什么地方、干什么工作都是自己决定，其劳动报酬、休息休假、职业安全、社会保险、宗教信仰和使用本民族语言文字等权利均依法得到有效保护。政府负责健全完善各项促进就业政策，积极搭建就业信息平台，为各族群众找到满意的工作、获得稳定的收入创造条件，根本不存在强迫新疆少数民族务工人员到新疆以外其他地方工作的情况。一些人恶意炒作所谓“强迫劳动”问题，根本目的在于剥夺新疆各族群众通过劳动就业追求美好生活的权利，使新疆永远封闭落后，这是不得人心的。
In general, the so-called Xinjiang issues are not about human rights, ethnicity or religion but about fighting violence, terrorism, separatism and radicalization. As a Chinese saying goes, “seeing is believing”. I hope you will view what’s happened in Xinjiang in a fact-based way and stop gathering vaporous rumors and hearsay. After COVID-19, we welcome Icelandic friends to visit Xinjiang, see the real situation there and get a better understanding of China.
归根到底，所谓新疆问题根本不是人权、民族、宗教问题，而是反暴恐、反分裂、去极端化问题。中国有句古话：眼见为实，耳听为虚。希望大家在看待新疆问题时能以事实为依据，而非捕风捉影，道听途说。疫情过后，欢迎冰岛朋友到新疆去走一走，看一看，更好地认识新疆、了解中国。