Beijing expressed firm opposition on Friday to certain countries exploiting Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.
The response after countries and blocs including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the European Union issued statements condemning Thailand's repatriation of 40 Chinese nationals who had illegally entered the country.
"China resolutely opposes the use of human rights as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs under the guise of the so-called Xinjiang issue, and to disrupt normal law enforcement cooperation between China and relevant countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a daily news briefing on Friday.
He emphasized that the repatriation operation was conducted in accordance with both Chinese and Thai laws, international law, and established international practices.
He reaffirmed that China is a country governed by the rule of law, with comprehensive legal frameworks and operational mechanisms in place for human rights protection in the judicial field, which have been widely recognized.
People of all ethnic groups, including the Uygurs in Xinjiang, fully enjoy economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, he added.
The spokesman slammed certain countries and international organizations for unjustly criticizing the legitimate law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand in combating cross-border crimes like human smuggling, even politicizing the issue by fabricating lies about Xinjiang.
He further noted that illegal immigration and human trafficking are recognized as criminal activities that seriously disrupt normal immigration and emigration order.
China will continue to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries to jointly address challenges posed by cross-border crimes, safeguard orderly cross-border movement of personnel, and protect the lawful rights and interests of those entering or exiting China, he added.
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