Anti-Terrorism in Xinjiang Is Beyond Reproach
新疆反恐怖主义无可指责
H.E. Dr Zhao Yongchen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Grenada
驻格林纳达大使赵永琛
19 June 2020
2020年6月19日
Recently, there has been a lot of hype about Xinjiang Vocational Education and Training Centers. Without a thorough understanding, some foreign media and politicians looked at Xinjiang issue through colored spectacles. They spread rumors, attacked the practice of cracking down on terrorism and curbing extremism, and slandered the Chinese government by claiming that there is so-called “concentration camps” in Xinjiang and the Chinese government is massively violating human rights of the Uyghur. The Houses of Representatives of a country even passed the so-called “Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act”, ignoring the facts and arbitrarily interfering in China’s domestic affairs in an attempt to achieve ulterior motives. In fact, Xinjiang-related issues are neither about religion, ethnicity, nor human rights, but about fighting violence and terrorism. Hereby, I would like to briefly explain the truth of anti-terrorism and de-extremism in Xinjiang. I hope it will help everyone to objectively and fairly understand Xinjiang issue.
近一段时间以来，一些外国媒体和政客戴着“有色眼镜”，在未做认真了解的情况下，以讹传讹，大规模炒作新疆教育培训中心问题，谎称新疆存在所谓的“集中营”，大肆攻击新疆打击恐怖主义、遏制极端主义的做法，造谣诬蔑中国大规模侵犯维吾尔族人权。个别国家众议院甚至通过了所谓的“新疆人权政策法案”，罔顾事实，无端粗暴干涉中国内政，妄图以此达到不可告人的目的。实际上，新疆面临的不是宗教、民族或人权问题，而是反暴力、反恐怖主义斗争的问题。在此，我愿简要阐释新疆反恐怖主义、反极端主义的真相，希望对大家客观公正认识新疆问题有所帮助。
First, anti-terrorism and de-extremism in Xinjiang are reasonable.
一、新疆反恐怖主义、遏制极端主义具有正当性
Xinjiang is located adjacent to Afghanistan. Since the 1990s, it has been poisoned by the Afghan Taliban, and religious extremists have grown. Some religious extremist groups in Xinjiang have also followed the Taliban and Al-Qaida, propagating Islamic extremism among believers and exercising spiritual control over believers. They incited believers to resist learning the standard spoken and written Chinese Language, reject modern scientific knowledge, oppose national Constitution and laws and refuse to learn vocational skills. These have severely disrupted Xinjiang’s security, stability and development. What is even more abhorrent is that some extremist groups in Xinjiang even incited terrorists to stigmatize the unbeliever Han ethnic people as pagans.
自上个世纪九十年代以来，新疆毗邻阿富汗、深受阿富汗塔利班毒害，宗教极端势力随之不断发展壮大。他们与塔利班、基地组织亦步亦趋，在信教群众中宣传伊斯兰极端主义，对信教群众进行精神控制，煽动信教群众抵制学习中国国家通用语言文字，排斥现代科学知识，对抗国家宪法法律，拒绝学习就业技能，严重干扰破坏新疆安全、稳定和发展。更为可恶的是新疆一些极端分子甚至煽动恐怖分子，将不信教的汉族群众蔑称为异教徒，要通过圣战予以消灭。
Employment is a basic element for people’s happy lives. This is linked to the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of people. In order to effectively contain and systematically remedy the dissemination of religious extremism and frequent terrorist incidents, and to improve their working skills, Xinjiang has set up a number of vocational education and training centers to provide systematic education and training to students. These measures improved their cultural knowledge and working skills, had them employed or increased their income. It helps eliminate terrorism and extremism in terms of the source. This policy aimed at fighting violent terrorism and curb religious extremism. It will not only improve people’s livelihood and promote employment, but also achieve social stability and long-term stability in Xinjiang.
就业，是人民幸福生活的基础和保障，关系到最广大人民群众的根本利益。为了祛除这些被洗脑穆斯林的邪念，提高他们的就业技能，对他们进行技术培训，新疆设立一批教培中心，对入校学员进行系统的教育培训，以期帮助学员提升文化知识水平，掌握劳动技能，促进就业和增加收入，从源头上消灭恐怖主义、极端主义。这不仅是打击暴力恐怖主义、遏制宗教极端主义的需要，也是改善民生，促进就业的良政，更是实现新疆社会稳定和长治久安的需要。
Second, anti-terrorism and de-extremism actions in Xinjiang are of legitimacy.
二、新疆反恐怖主义、遏制极端主义具有合法性
Anti-terrorism and de-extremism are carried out in accordance with laws and regulations. Vocational education and training centers have been established in some regions in Xinjiang, in accordance with the Counter-terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China, National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Measures of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Implementing the Counter-terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Regulations of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Deradicalization, and other relevant laws and regulations. The specific procedures for carrying out vocational education and training in Xinjiang require that relevant authorities determine the nature and circumstances of the acts, in accordance with the laws and regulations, such as the Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, and Counter-terrorism Law, and then educate and train the relevant individuals accordingly.
新疆开展反恐怖主义、遏制极端势力工作，是依法开展的。新疆依据《中华人民共和国反恐怖主义法》、《中华人民共和国国家安全法》以及《新疆维吾尔自治区实施〈中华人民共和国反恐怖主义法〉办法》《新疆维吾尔自治区去极端化条例》等法律法规，设立教育培训中心，开展帮教工作。教培工作具体法律程序，是由有关机关依照《中华人民共和国刑法》《中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法》《中华人民共和国反恐怖主义法》等相关法律法规规定，对相关违反治安处罚条例和良俗公序行为的性质和情节进行认定，对相关人员作出相应的教育和处理。
Xinjiang’s measures are fully in line with the principals of international law and series of international anti-terrorism resolutions such as UN Security Council Resolution 1373, and the other principles of relevant international conventions and initiatives. China upholds the UN Charter and other principles and norms of international law. It contributed to the full implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (60/288). China has joined a number of conventions on international anti-terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages. With good faith, China has been implemented its treaty obligations of the international conventions on anti-terrorism, and actively carry out anti-terrorism.
新疆开展反恐怖主义、遏制极端势力工作完全符合国际法原则，符合联合国安理会1373号决议等一系列反恐怖主义决议，符合国际社会有关公约、倡议的基本原则。中国坚持遵循《联合国宪章》和其他国际法原则，大力推动《联合国全球反恐战略》（60/288）全面实施，加入《制止恐怖主义爆炸的国际公约》《制止向恐怖主义提供资助的国际公约》《制止核恐怖主义行为国际公约》《反对劫持人质国际公约》等国际反恐公约，并善意执行反恐怖主义国际公约的条约义务，积极开展反恐怖主义工作。
Xinjiang’s anti-terrorism and de-extremism implement the United Nations anti-terrorism strategy. The United Nations Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism (70/674) proposes to align national development policies with the Sustainable Development Goals, end all forms of poverty, ensure quality education, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; to encourage individuals to be away from violent extremist groups by developing programs that place an emphasis on providing them with educational and economic opportunities; and to support young people in gaining access to continued learning and vocational resources, and in incubating their entrepreneurial talent. The efforts of setting up vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang manifest China’s implementation of international counter-terrorism and deradicalization initiatives and measures, which is consistent with the principles of international law.
新疆反恐怖主义、遏制极端主义模范执行联合国反恐战略。联合国《防止暴力极端主义行动计划》（70/674）提出，要将国家发展政策与可持续发展目标保持一致，消除一切形式的贫困，确保优质教育，让全民享有终身学习机会；为暴力极端主义团体的人提供教育机会和经济机遇，鼓励其脱离暴力极端主义团体；向青年提供继续学习机会、职业培训资源、创业才能培养。新疆开展教培工作，正是中国落实国际社会反恐、去极端化倡议及其理念的具体表现，是合乎国际法治原则的。
Third, anti-terrorism and de-extremism in Xinjiang achieved remarkable and positive results.
三、新疆反恐怖主义、遏制极端主义取得显著积极效果
Xinjiang has effectively contained the spread of terrorism by taking measures to control the source. No terrorist incidents or cases have occurred in Xinjiang for nearly three years since the vocational education and training centers started. The relevant measures have safeguarded Xinjiang’s security and development rights, promoted justice, effectively curbed Islamic extremism and radicalism, and increased the awareness of Uighurs, especially Muslims, on the danger of religious extremism, provided channels of giving up evil and returning to good to those who have been deceived, bullied, and brainwashed, which was welcomed by the trainees and their families.
新疆采取从源头上治理的举措，有效遏制了恐怖主义发展蔓延。近3年新疆未发生暴力恐怖案件，维护了新疆地区安全和发展权益，弘扬了正义，有效遏制了伊斯兰极端主义、激进主义，提高了维吾尔族人尤其是穆斯林对宗教极端思想危害的认知，对受到蒙蔽、欺侮、被洗脑的人改邪归正提供了很好的渠道，受到学员本人及其家庭的欢迎。
The number of people participating in education and training at the centers is not fixed; some are coming in while others are going out. As education and training has played its role, most trainees have reached certain standards and graduated. Through vocational skills training and study, the comprehensive quality of trainees has improved, while their understanding of the rule of law has risen. The ability to speak and write in standard Chinese has improved. Most of them have mastered practical skills and their employability has increased. Most of the trainees are able to recognize that religious extremism is not their expected religion, but some heresy, and the spread of religious extremism and superstition has been effectively eliminated. The social atmosphere has taken a marked turn for the better, and people are now pursuing modern knowledge of science and technology and a cultured way of life. The overall situation in society continues to be stable. Public order and security have returned to society, where equality, solidarity and harmony among ethnic groups and religions prevailed, and people are enjoying peace and stability. The international community has made positive comments on Xinjiang’s policy and efforts. According to statistics, in 2018, tourism in Xinjiang grew rapidly. Tourists from inside and outside China totalled over 150 million, a year-on-year increase of 40 percent; foreign tourists numbered 2.6 million, a year-on-year increase of nearly 12 percent. From January to June 2019, nearly 76 million tourists visited Xinjiang, an increase of 46 percent over the same period in 2018.
新疆开展教培工作，参加教育培训人数是动态的，有进有出。随着教培工作的开展，大多数学员已达到培训要求顺利结业。受训学员综合素质得到提升，法治意识得到提高，国家通用语言文字的使用能力得到提高，大多数掌握了一定的实用技能，就业能力得到提高。大多数学员能够认清宗教极端主义不是宗教，宗教极端主义思想的传播和迷信得到有效祛除。社会风气明显好转，追求现代科学技术知识、文明生活风尚的社会氛围日渐浓厚。社会大局持续稳定，社会治安状况明显好转，民族平等团结，宗教和睦和顺，人民生活安定祥和，各族人民普遍支持，国际社会积极评价。据统计，2018年，新疆旅游业大幅增长，共接待境内外游客超过1.5亿人次，同比增长40%；其中境外游客262.6万人次，同比增长11.83%。2019年1月至6月，新疆接待境内外游客7589.35万人次，同比增长46%。
Fourth, anti-terrorism and de-extremism in Xinjiang are in line with international justice and human rights protection.
四、新疆反恐怖主义、遏制极端主义符合国际正义和人权保护
Terrorism is a global hazard and seriously endangers the security of all countries. China’s anti-terrorism and deradicalization actions successfully curbed Xinjiang’s terrorist activities, cut off the communication channels between the international network of East Turkestan Islamic Movement originated in Xinjiang of China, stopped effectively extremists in Xinjiang from leaving China illegally to join in terrorist activities of ISIS, and have made significant contributions to the international anti-terrorism cause. As an important part of the world’s anti-terrorism cause, the victory of anti-terrorism in Xinjiang is not only a victory of China, but also a victory of the world’s anti-terrorism cause. Its successful experience is a model for countries around the world. If the whole world can stop the wave of terrorist extremism like this, it would be the gospel for all the people.
恐怖主义活动是国际公害，严重危害各国安全。中国反恐怖主义和去极端化，遏制新疆恐怖主义活动，切断了新疆本土产生的东伊运恐怖组织国际网络与中国的联系渠道，有效防范新疆籍极端主义分子非法出境加入ISIS的恐怖活动，对国际反恐事业作出了重大贡献。作为世界反恐怖主义工作的重要组成部分，新疆反恐工作的胜利，不仅是中国的胜利，也是全世界反恐事业的胜利。其成功经验值得世界各国学习。如果全世界都能像新疆这样遏制住恐怖主义极端主义的浪潮，那是全世界人民的福音。
During the education and training process, the Chinese government strictly protected human rights and culture in Xinjiang. For a long time, the Islamic extremists in Xinjiang forced the non-believers to believe in Islam, enforced the integration of administration and religion, banned Uyghurs from holding traditional Uyghur weddings, listening to modern music, dancing and other cultural activities, discriminated against women, and forced women to veil and wear black robes in contrary to thousand-year of Uyghur tradition, severely restricted women’s personal freedom and rights, and forced changes to Uyghur cultural customs. All these actions are the greatest violation of the human rights and culture of Xinjiang people. Anti-terrorism and de-extremism actions in Xinjiang have rescued Uyghurs and other ethnic peoples from the stuffing of religious extremism, safeguarded Uyghurs’ freedom, dignity and rights, defended Uyghur culture and excellent traditions, reversed all kinds of distorted social ethos, and enabled good governance. This is the great achievement of the Chinese government in anti-terrorism and deserves affirmation and praises from all countries. All kind and rational women in western world, don’t you think the protection of basic human rights of Uyghur women by the Chinese government is commendable?
中国新疆政府在这一培训过程中，严格保护新疆人权和文化。长期以来，伊斯兰极端势力在新疆强制不信教群众信仰伊斯兰教，强制实行政教合一，强制禁止维吾尔人举办维族传统婚礼，禁止参加听音乐、跳舞等文艺活动，歧视妇女，强迫妇女违反千年来形成的习惯，蒙面纱、穿黑袍，严重限制妇女人身自由和权利，强制更改维吾尔文化习俗和传统，对新疆人民的人权和文化构成最大侵犯。新疆反恐怖主义和去极端化行动，将维吾尔和其他民族人民从宗教极端势力的蒙蔽中解救出来，维护了维吾尔人自由、尊严和权利，捍卫了维吾尔族文化和优秀传统，扭转了各种歪风邪气，使良治善政得以施行。这是中国政府反恐怖主义的伟大成就，理应得到各国的肯定和赞扬。试问广大善良有理性的欧美妇女，中国政府保护维吾尔妇女的基本人权不值得赞同吗？
Some western media fabricated fake news and created rumors to confuse the public. Some countries, with double standards, reversed black and white, wantonly interfered in China’s internal affairs, and opposed China’s efforts of anti-terrorism and de-extremism. This reflects their supporting terrorism and extremism in a disguised form, grossly infringing upon Uyghur human rights, freedom and the right to live, undermining social stability in Xinjiang and the right to economic and social development of Uyghurs, which has to be condemned by the international community.
一些西方媒体捏造假新闻，造谣惑众，个别国家颠倒黑白，肆意严重干涉中国内政，反对中国反恐怖主义、反极端主义，搞双重标准，等于变相支持恐怖主义、极端主义，赤裸裸地侵犯维吾尔族人权、自由与生存权，破坏新疆社会稳定，侵犯维吾尔族人的经济社会发展权。这是极其错误的，应得到国际社会的谴责。