Western govts, media behind smear campaign

After Joe Biden assumed power the world was hoping that it would be a step toward peace and stability on global map. China also welcomed the Biden administration and anticipated that the new US government would implement new policies based on mutual respect and values.

However, it is sad to see that the administration is following the footsteps of his predecessors, especially with his initiative to form an alliance with "democratic" countries to rival China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative as tensions remain between the Asian country and Westerns nations. Biden suggested the proposal in a call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid a row over sanctions against alleged abuses in Xinjiang region.

Not only the US but the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and other Westerns countries also spoke the same language and several Xinjiang's political and economic entities were sanctioned on baseless human rights allegations.

Following in the footsteps of these nations, another anti-China pseudo-scholar claimed so-called human rights violations on social media and fabricated the rumors about forced labor of Uyghurs and sterilization. These propaganda prompted by Westerns media damaged the import of cotton products from Xinjiang, making local farmers suffer. These steps are a violation against China sovereignty and security because these are China's internal affairs.

It is safe to deduce from these instances that if the United States sees any benefits and interests in other country, it goes there with its full might leveraging its superpower status and use of violence and controversies. The US could have been an epitome of global peace but to the world's dismay, it indulges in century-old war methods to continue its hegemony across the globe. The US' foreign policy remains same regardless of change in leadership. Almost all the US leaders are polished by their bureaucrats to exercise America's superpower status to dominate other country. These approaches can still be witnessed in the Middle East and Central Asia.

On the contrary, China is coming to the fore of world stage with its friendly, peaceful and win-win approaches. China has contributed in eliminating 36 percent poverty of entire world through economic cooperation. China understands that peace and economic development are correlated phenomenon and economic development can never be achieved without peaceful atmosphere. How can a country that has peace agreements with neighbors hurt Xinjiang, a region that is so vital for it?

As China is almost on an equal footing with the US in regards to defense power, it has become difficult for the US to launch a direct intervention action plan to subdue China. Therefore, it leverages its reputation around the world to project itself as a keeper of human rights while China as a society that has no regards to human rights.

The Western media is inclined on projecting grim picture of China by weaving false stories on Xinjiang and unfortunately people across the world believe them thinking the media presents authentic reports. As an English proverb goes, "the church bell calls others to Church but doesn't enter itself", the US tends to shout slogans against alleged mischief of China and solicits other countries to join its cause, thereby fueling factionalism.

It's a sheer irony that the country whose interest and benefit are linked to wars and instability in the world by poking in other countries' regional or internal affairs actually has the audacity to talk about China's reported disregard of human rights.

As far as Xinjiang is concerned, what China is doing is trying to protect Xinjiang people from terrorism and extremism. It's simply trying to protect its land. China has been rejecting allegations about Xinjiang human rights violations and defending those accusations by disclosing Xinjiang development reports. China's policy has been poverty alleviation, economic and infrastructural development and population growth in Xinjiang.

But as global media is largely a puppet of Western establishment, Xinjiang's actual situation and fair picture eludes the knowledge of observers. The population growth in Xinjiang is more than normal as from 2010 to 2018 the permanent population of Xinjiang increased from 21.81 million to 24.86 million while Uighur population rose from 10.17 million to 12.71 millions. Interestingly, despite COVID-19, the Xinjiang GDP growth rate in 2020 was 3.4 percent. The region was boosted by a booming manufacturing sector and rising agricultural production.

Despite all the smears against China by the Western world, China is not just getting richer but it is also helping other nations grow economically, the example being Africa, Pakistan and smaller nations. China's recent successful fight against COVID-19 is a true reflection of it and just like China established itself as a coronavirus free country, it will make the world a "political and war virus free" place.

The author has been working in Pakistan electronic media of Pakistan since 2012.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.

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