Ministry vows response to Washington 'Uyghur act'

China reiterated its opposition on Wednesday to the United States interfering in its internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues, and it vowed to firmly respond if Washington insists on going ahead with the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act".

The bill, which was passed by the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, would ban all imports from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region unless the US government determines that those products were not made with "forced labor".

The bill must also be passed in the US Senate before it can be sent to US President Joe Biden for his signature.

Attempts to contain China's development through Xinjiang-related issues will never succeed and will only further damage the credibility and image in China of the US government and the US Congress, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily news conference.

China is determined to safeguard its national security and development interests, he stressed.

Some US politicians are repeatedly fabricating lies and making trouble in relation to Xinjiang affairs, which is political manipulation and economic bullying under the pretext of human rights, Zhao said.

"As a clay figurine cannot stand rainwater, lies cannot bear scrutiny," he said.

China deeply regrets that the so-called "genocide" and "forced labor" in Xinjiang－the biggest lie of the century－is being turned into politically correct spin in the US, Zhao said.

The label of "forced labor "matches the US better than any other countries, he said, adding that what the US government did to Native Americans constitutes real genocide.

In another development, the US will add eight Chinese companies, including drone manufacturer DJI Technology Co, to an investment blacklist this week due to their alleged involvement in surveillance of the Uygur ethnic group, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

US investors are barred from taking stakes in companies on the list, which currently includes around 60 enterprises.

China always opposes US abuse of the concept of national security and intensifying the unreasonable oppression of Chinese companies, Zhao said.

China has continued to clarify the truth and facts on Xinjiang-related issues, he said, adding, "We will closely follow the development of the situation and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises."