China denounces US human rights report on Xinjiang

China firmly opposes the 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices issued by the United States Department of State, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday.

The China-related content in the report is "striking up the same old tune" and disregarding facts, Geng said at a daily news briefing.

The report, as well as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks on its release, are "full of political lies and ideological bias" against China, he said, urging the US to stop using human rights issues to interfere in China's domestic affairs.

In response to Pompeo's criticism on China's human rights, Geng said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting and promoting human rights.

Historic progress has been made in China's human rights cause, and the human rights situation in China is at its best time in history, he said, adding that the Chinese people have the biggest say in this regard. 　

The human rights situation in China won't be defamed by a single report or some remarks by certain US officials, he added.

Xinjiang affairs are China's domestic affairs and brook no external interference, he said.

The counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures taken in Xinjiang have been supported by people among all ethnic groups and spoken of highly by the international community, he said, adding that the US has no right to make irresponsible remarks on the issue.

China urges the US to reflect on and correct its mistakes, or it will meet stronger opposition from the Chinese people, he added.