The BBC’s report about Xinjiang on 31 July hyped up the baseless allegation of China conducting “transnational repression” of Uyghurs abroad and made false claim of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang being monitored and imprisoned, instigating antagonism and seriously misleading audience. The Chinese side firmly opposes it.

The allegation of China conducting so-called “transnational repression” is completely groundless. It is a political manipulation by certain ill-intentioned politicians in the US and the West to use Xinjiang to contain and smear China. China respects the sovereignty of other countries and conducts law enforcement and judicial cooperation with them in accordance with the law, and China protects the communication of all ethnic groups, including the Uyghurs, with their overseas relatives according to law. For some time now, anti-China “East Turkistan” separatists overseas have been making false claims about “missing” relatives. Verification with relevant departments shows however that some of those allegedly "missing" are living a normal life, while some are simply fabricated. A small number of scholars in the UK, aiding and abetting "East Turkistan" separatists, have been concocting rumours about Xinjiang in the name of “academic freedom.” This is a far cry from objectivity and fairness befitting a scholar. The BBC, for its part, has gone to great lengths to hype up these distorted allegations that are full of hostility and bias against China and aimed at creating divisions. It has to be pointed out that the BBC has fallen far behind its stated principle of impartiality in its reports about Xinjiang.  

The great achievements of Xinjiang in economic development, social progress, and improvement to people's lives are widely-recognised around the world. This can never be distorted by a small group of anti-China elements colluding with anti-China forces in the US and the West for the purpose of misleading the public. Over the past 60 years and more since the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was established, the region’s economy has grown 160 times. Its Uyghur population has expanded from 2.2 million to about 12 million, and the average life expectancy there has increased from 30 to 74.7 years. In recent years, more than 2,000 government officials, religious personnel and journalists from over 100 countries and international organisations have visited Xinjiang. They spoke highly of the inclusive development of diverse cultures and the stable and peaceful live enjoyed by people in Xinjiang, and expressed understanding and support for the region’s counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation efforts.

Today’s Xinjiang is at its best in history. Any rumours about Xinjiang will collapse in the face of the fact that the region enjoys social stability and harmony, and sustained economic development, and people there are leading a peaceful and happy life. We urge the BBC to observe the professional ethics of journalism, stop spreading Xinjiang-related rumours, and report China in an objective and fair manner.