A spokesperson for the government of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Monday refuted a fake report on Xinjiang by the New York Times.
The spokesperson issued a statement refuting the report published in the New York Times on Nov. 16, in which the paper claimed it had obtained so-called internal documents and slandered anti-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts in Xinjiang.
The spokesperson said Xinjiang is China's main battlefield in its anti-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts, adding there were thousands of violent and terrorist incidents in Xinjiang from 1990 to the end of 2016, which resulted in a large number of innocent casualties and tremendous damage to property.
Facing such a grim situation, Xinjiang has not only cracked down on violent terrorist crimes in accordance with the law, but also attached great importance to tackling the root causes, so as to protect citizens' basic human rights from being harmed by terrorism and extremism to the greatest extent, which has been welcomed and supported by the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, according to the spokesperson.
There have been no cases of violence or terrorism in Xinjiang for 35 months in a row, said the spokesperson, adding the basic rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including the rights to life, health and development, have been effectively protected.
The spokesperson said the Chinese government has fully briefed the international community on the measures taken and achievements made by Xinjiang to combat terrorism and maintain stability.
More than 70 groups of officials from countries and regions worldwide, international organizations, news media, religious groups, experts and scholars have visited Xinjiang, and they have praised Xinjiang's experience in combating terrorism and eliminating extremism, saying this experience is worth learning from, according to the spokesperson.
The spokesperson said Western anti-China forces and the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism both at home and abroad are unwilling to recognize the stable and harmonious development of Xinjiang, and repeatedly make up fake news to attack, slander and discredit Xinjiang. The NYT report was completely fabricated by hostile forces at home and abroad, and is full of nonsense, lies and sinister intentions, the spokesperson said.
Fabricating fake news to attract attention is a common trick of the New York Times, which was mired in a crisis of trust, said the spokesperson. The fake news on Xinjiang fabricated by the newspaper is no more than a repetition of an old trick.
This despicable act will doubtlessly be held in contempt by all people of insight in the international community, said the spokesperson.
