BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping made a public visit to Xinjiang, state media reported Friday, his first since a crackdown in the region saw Beijing accused of detaining over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in camps. The United States and lawmakers in other Western countries have labelled China’s actions in Xinjiang a “genocide”, imposing sanctions over the alleged human rights abuses. Beijing has denied the allegations, calling them the “lie […]
Tag: xinjiang
UN’s Guterres says expects China to let rights chief visit Xinjiang
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told leaders in Beijing he expects them to allow UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to make a “credible” visit to China including a stop in the troubled Xinjiang region, his spokesman said Saturday. Guterres met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics, according to a readout of their talks. The UN chief “expressed his expectation that the contacts between the […]
US House passes Uighur bill urging sanctions on Chinese officials
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday that would apply sanctions against senior Chinese officials, triggering a furious response from Beijing. The legislation adds to tensions between the two superpowers just as they are locked in negotiations to finalize a “phase one” deal to resolve their protracted trade war. Washington had already angered Beijing when President Donald Trump signed legislation supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, prompting China […]
Australia calls on China to let Uighur mother and son leave
by Holly Robertson SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s government on Wednesday called on China to allow an Australian child and his Uighur mother to leave the country, stepping up pressure on Beijing days after Canberra co-signed a letter denouncing its treatment of the Muslim minority. China has rounded up an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking minorities into re-education camps in the tightly-controlled region of Xinjiang in the country’s northwest. Canberra […]
Diplomats, activists decry Chinese ‘threats’ at UN rights council
by Nina Larson Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Diplomats and activists on Monday denounced intense Chinese lobbying, pressure and even threats to rein in criticism of Beijing during last month’s session of the UN Human Rights Council. Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged that the Chinese mission in Geneva had sent a letter to a number of missions urging them to stay away from a US-organised event on March 13 about China’s treatment […]
6.6-magnitude quake hits Xinjiang
JINGHE COUNTY, China (CCTV) — A 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted Jinghe County on Wednesday following Tuesday’s strong earthquake in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). No casualties have been reported so far in the quake that took place at 07:27 in the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The epicenter was recorded at a point 44.27 degrees north latitude and 82.89 degrees east longitude, with […]
Earthquake kills eight in western China: report
BEIJING, China (AFP) — An earthquake rocked China’s western Xinjiang region on Thursday, killing eight people and injuring another 23 as more than 1,500 homes crumbled, state media reported. The shallow 5.4-magnitude quake struck at 5:58 am (2158 GMT Wednesday) 213 kilometers (133 miles) south-southwest of the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, the US Geological Survey said. Some people were buried after their adobe homes collapsed, said Wang Fuyou, Communist Party chief of Taxkorgan […]
China launches ‘hack-proof’ communications satellite
(REUTERS) China on Tuesday launched the world’s first quantum satellite, which will help it establish “hack-proof” communications between space and the ground, state media said, the latest advance in an ambitious space program. The program is a priority as President Xi Jinping has urged China to establish itself as a space power, and apart from its civilian ambitions, it has tested anti-satellite missiles. The Quantum Experiments at Space Scale, or QUESS, satellite, was launched […]
Landslide kills 35 in northwest China
BEIJING, China (AFP) — At least 35 have been killed in a landslide in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region, state media reported Thursday. The landslide caused by heavy rain hit a village in the Kunlun Mountains, burying houses and their occupants in the early hours of Wednesday. By Thursday night 35 bodied had been pulled from the debris, according to the official Xinhua news agency. A rescue operation was underway, but efforts were being hindered by […]
White paper on religious freedom in Xinjiang published
(Reuters) — Respect for and protection of freedom of religious belief is China’s long-term basic national policy, stated the white paper “Freedom of Religious Belief in Xinjiang” published by the State Council on Thursday. The paper said Chinese laws protect normal religious activities. Citizens can have all normal religious activities in their own homes or at religious venues in accordance with the customary religious practices, including going to prayers, Ramadan, worshiping Buddha and other […]
Death toll rises to 6 in Xinjiang mine collapse
Reuters – Six people were killed in a coal mine collapse in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang, state media said on Wednesday (April 6). Four others are still trapped, state media added. The collapse took place at around 2:50 p.m. (0650 GMT) on Sunday (April 3), when 19 people were working underground at Tianli Coal Mine in Kashgar region, state broadcaster CCTV said. Xinhua news agency said eight people escaped unharmed and one person […]





