Washington ploys to contain China exposed

The United States' move of stirring up so-called "human rights issues" in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region aims to create a crisis of legitimacy of governance as well as crises of economics and even China's sovereignty, a report said.

With a strong anti-China position in mind, the US government has been interfering in recent years in China's core interests, such as countering separatist threats and safeguarding national sovereignty, according to a report released on Wednesday on the conspiracies and approaches of the US strategy. Attempting to contain China by disrupting Xinjiang has been a key strategy, said the report, which was published by Lanzhou University's Institute for Central Asia Studies.

The US government has been slandering Xinjiang on so-called human rights issues by intentionally misinterpreting the region's counterterrorism and de-radicalization measures and even linking them to specific ethnic or religious groups, according to the report, which is titled "The Conspiracies and Approaches of the Crisis Politics under the 'Containing China through Disrupting Xinjiang' Strategy of the US".

Li Jie, a professor at the institute and lead writer of the report, said that he hopes that more people will see the intention of the strategy and remain clear and objective about human rights in Xinjiang.

"By spreading groundless accusations such as 'forced labor' and 'genocide', the US has created a moral basis to attack China. The move is also expected to stir up ethnic and social conflicts," Li said. "After Xinjiang became the target of the US, the region's stability and long-term peace are more important than ever. As long as Xinjiang remains stable, the US goal will never be achieved," Li said.

In addition, the US has been trying to create an economic crisis in Xinjiang by imposing sanctions in the name of so-called "forced labor". Furthermore, by accusing China of carrying out "genocide" against the Uygurs, the US even aims to challenge the central government's legitimacy of governance in the region, the report said.

On Dec 8, the US House of Representatives passed the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act", which would further ban imports produced in Xinjiang and target businesses working with Xinjiang partners. To become law, the legislation must also be passed in the Senate and signed by US President Joe Biden.

"As imposing sanctions on products made in Xinjiang has become a political strategy for the US, China should also act to help Xinjiang manufacturers explore new international markets and expand the domestic market," Li said.

He added that countries that may be seen by the US as threats should also understand that the US may also attack them in the name of human rights, which he said has become a common practice and effective tool for US politicians.