'Forced labor' fallacy a tool to contain China

The alleged "forced labor" fallacy, propagated by Western anti-China forces, serves as nothing more than a tactic to hinder China's economic progress. Blatantly disregarding factual evidence, distorting the truth, imposing sanctions, and suppressing Xinjiang-based enterprises, these actions encroach upon the development rights of all ethnic groups in the region, said Tursun Abai, in an op-ed published in the Journal of United Front Science.

The author assembled over 30,000 reports related to Xinjiang from 22 distinct media outlets across 15 countries and regions. From this extensive dataset, he conducted a comprehensive analysis, specifically focusing on 189 reports originating from 13 media outlets that disseminated the alleged "forced labor" fallacy.

According to the author, the Western anti-China forces employ sensationalized language and fabricated narratives to tarnish and assail China's Xinjiang policies. Some Western politicians, media outlets, think tanks, and various organizations, under the guise of safeguarding human rights, have united to craft a web of misinformation and disinformation regarding Xinjiang.

Abai said that in its pursuit of eradicating the breeding grounds of terrorism and religious extremism, China is committed to "treating both the symptoms and root causes" strategy. This approach involves the lawful establishment of education and training centers to administer assistance and education. Such measures, widely recognized as international means of preventing terrorism and radicalization, have, however, been distorted by Western detractors into the notion of "forced labor."

Ironically, the United States, which often positions itself as the "world police," grapples with grave forced labor issues within its own borders. These issues encompass various sectors, including agricultural production, sweatshops, and immigration detention centers. Regrettably, the United States selectively disregards these challenges while hastily labeling and accusing other nations without factual basis.

The author stressed that the actual intention behind this smear campaign is to maliciously target Xinjiang's rapidly ascending economy and ultimately obstruct the development of China. This campaign extends its reach to all products originating from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and businesses affiliated with the region. With the deception machine in full operation, their efforts are aimed at suppressing the region's industries and depriving more than 25 million people in Xinjiang of their basic necessities for life.

These Western "experts", organizations and media sidestep the fundamental differences between Chinese and Western concepts of human rights, as well as China's accomplishments in the realm of human rights. Ignoring the nation's poverty alleviation policies through employment transfer, they instead indulge in unfounded speculations and misinterpretations.

However, no matter how many attacks and false accusations are made, it remains undeniable that Xinjiang continues to thrive and maintain stability. Neither will these efforts impede China's progress. Fabrications will always be fabrications, destined solely for the oblivion of history's dustbin.