A spokesperson for the Embassy of the People's Republic of China responded to a question about Xinjiang after the „Ilham Tohti Initiative“ event at the Václav Havel Library on 16 January, which was also attended by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security.
The Chinese side stressed that the case of Ilham Tohti does not concern human rights or ethnic or religious issues. According to China, Ilham Tohti was convicted of subversion of the state and his actions were aimed at dividing the country, inciting hatred and advocating violent terrorism, which is unacceptable anywhere, including the Czech Republic. China has expressed its strong dissatisfaction with the fact that Czech officials and NGOs are making contacts with anti-Chinese separatists and criticising the situation in Xinjiang, thereby interfering in China's internal affairs.
The spokesman further said that issues related to Xinjiang are a matter of fighting terrorism and separatism. The area has been seriously affected by extremism and violent attacks in the past, which have threatened the lives and property of residents. The Chinese Government is therefore implementing counter-terrorism and deradicalisation measures in accordance with the law, which it believes has brought long-term stability and development to the region. People of all ethnic groups now live in peace and security, and Xinjiang is in the best period of development in its history.
China has reiterated that Xinjiang's affairs are an internal matter of the country and does not accept any interference by foreign states. It urged Czech officials to take an objective view of the region's progress, not to spread untruths and not to support the activities of anti-Chinese separatists.
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