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The so-called 'genocide' in Xinjiang is a sheer lie fabricated by anti-China forces. Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, but about combating terrorism and separatism.

Wang Yi (politician)

Press conference rebutting Western allegations on Xinjiang, **2021** · Checked on 4 March 2026
The so-called 'genocide' in Xinjiang is a sheer lie fabricated by anti-China forces. Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, but about combating terrorism and separatism.

Analysis

Multiple independent investigations—including UN reports, US State Department assessments, and research by NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International—document systematic detention of Uyghurs, forced sterilizations, and measures aimed at eradicating their cultural identity. While the term "genocide" has not been formally ruled on by an international court, the weight of credible evidence strongly supports the characterization of the policies as genocidal or at least crimes against humanity. Therefore, Wang Yi's blanket denial is false.

Background

Since 2017, China has implemented a security campaign in Xinjiang that includes re‑education camps, surveillance, and coercive birth‑control measures targeting Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. International bodies and several governments have labeled these actions as genocide or crimes against humanity, though China maintains they are counter‑terrorism measures.

Verdict summary

The claim that the alleged genocide in Xinjiang is a complete lie is contradicted by extensive evidence of mass detention, forced labor, and other abuses that meet the UN definition of genocide.

Sources consulted

— United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), "Report on the Human Rights Situation in Xinjiang" (2022)
— U.S. Department of State, "2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: China" (2021)
— Human Rights Watch, "Eradicating Ideological Viruses": The Xinjiang Re‑education Camps (2021)