BEIJING (Reuters) – Certain political forces have been “spreading lies” concerning the Chinese northwestern region of Xinjiang to disrupt order, China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.
People of all ethnic groups including Uyghurs enjoy socio-economic and political rights and interest as citizens, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said when asked about 48 Uyghur activists believed were deported from Thailand to China.
Lin instead referred to 40 repatriated Chinese that state news agency Xinhua said had been “bewitched by criminal organisations” and were stranded in Thailand.
He did not confirm if the 40 Chinese citizens were Uyghurs.
(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Writing by Liz Lee; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
