Sponsored visit by foreign diplomats to China’s Xinjiang province causes stir

-According to human rights groups, visit was sponsored by Chinese government to promote official narrative that Uyghurs in Xinjiang are doing well

BEIJING, China – The visit of 25 foreign diplomats to China’s Xinjiang province has come under fire from human rights groups.

The diplomats from Dominica, Myanmar, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Nicaragua, and Mexico visited the western autonomous region from July 31 to August 3.

According to human rights groups, the visit was sponsored by the Chinese government to promote the official narrative that Uyghurs in Xinjiang are doing well.

The diplomats visited several cities in Xinjiang, including Urumqi, Aksu, and Kashgar.

According to activists, the diplomats were only allowed to visit places that had been pre-approved by the Chinese government.

In addition, the diplomats would not have been allowed to speak with Uyghurs who have been critical of the government.

The Chinese government defended the visit, saying that it allowed foreign diplomats to see Xinjiang for themselves.

In early February, a group of diplomats from African countries visited Xinjiang and expressed support for Chinese policies.

The Chinese government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including arbitrary detention, torture, forced sterilization, and forced labor.

China has denied all allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. However, the international community is largely skeptical of the Chinese government’s claims about Xinjiang.