Germany, Britain and US press China over new ‘shocking’ Xinjiang human rights abuse reports
- State Department spokesman says US will work with allies to seek accountability after release of thousands of photos and documents from official Chinese databases
- Beijing says the material is ‘the newest example of a smear campaign by anti-China forces’
In a virtual meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said there were “shocking reports and new evidence of very serious human rights violations in Xinjiang” and called for a transparent investigation.
“Human rights are a fundamental part of the international order and Germany is committed to protecting them worldwide,” Baerbock’s office quoted her as saying.
Her comments followed the release of a trove of alleged police documents and photographs appearing to shed new light on China’s internment of Uygurs and members of other ethnic minority groups – some allegedly as young as 15 years old.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US administration was “appalled” by the “jarring images” and would continue to work with allies to seek accountability for the Chinese government’s actions in Xinjiang.
01:31
UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet arrives in China for Xinjiang visit
