China’s mission to the UN on May 10 called on the US, the UK, Germany and some NGOs to cancel an upcoming event in New York on the "human rights situation" in the Xinjiang autonomous region, saying it is premised on "sheer lies and political bias".

A spokesperson said in a statement: "The US, the UK, Germany and other co-sponsors, out of anti-China political motivation, are using human rights issues as a political tool in a vain attempt to create division and turbulence in Xinjiang, interfering in China's internal affairs and disrupting China's peaceful development."

Xinjiang, located in Northwest China, "is at its best in history with stability, rapid economic development and harmonious co-existence among people of all ethnic groups", the spokesperson said. "The US and other co-sponsors are obsessed with provoking lies and trying to create turbulence in China," the statement said.

"This approach is strongly resented by all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including the Uighur population, firmly opposed by all Chinese people, and doomed to fail," the statement said.

The spokesperson pointed out that with the Covid-19 pandemic still ravaging nations, many UN member states are calling for international solidarity in the global response.

The US and other co-sponsors ignore that call and "persistently politicise human rights issues, provoke political confrontation and undermine the unity and collaboration of member states", the spokesperson said.

"Such practices … undermine the efforts of member states in addressing global challenges and poisons cooperation in human rights and other areas, which will be firmly opposed by the vast member states,” the statement said.

CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK