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Updated February 26th, 2021 at 18:13 IST

China on Dutch Uyghur motion, EU Xinjiang invite

China on Friday hit out at the Dutch Parliament for passing a non-binding motion condemning Beijing's treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the western Xinjiang region as "genocide."

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China on Friday hit out at the Dutch Parliament for passing a non-binding motion condemning Beijing's treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the western Xinjiang region as "genocide."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the motion lacks "legal common sense" and "grossly interferes in China's internal affairs."

Netherlands is the first European country make such a statement.Earlier this week, Canadian lawmakers voted to declare China was committing genocide against over 1 million Uyghurs in the region.Also Friday, Wang told a daily news briefing that China has invited the EU delegates to visit Xinjiang many times with what he claimed "thoughtful arrangements."

The visit, however, has been delayed repeatedly because of the "side issues" and "unreasonable requests" raised by the EU, according to Wang.This follows Britain's call for "unfettered access" for the United Nations to the Xinjiang region during an address to the UN Human Rights Council this week.

China denies any abuses of Uyghurs and insists the steps it has taken in the far western Xinjiang region are necessary to combat terrorism and a separatist movement.Asked about disengagement progress along the China-India border, Wang confirmed that the situation has "significantly eased" in the Pangong Lake area after two frontline troops completed disengagement.He called on the two sides to "cherish" the situation and strive to "further de-escalate" the border tensions.

China said last week that four of its soldiers were killed in the June 2020 clash, the first time Beijing has publicly conceded its side suffered casualties.The fighting was the deadliest incident between the Asian giants in nearly 45 years.Separately, Wang commented on the U.S. airstrikes in Syria on Thursday targeting facilities used by Iranian-backed militia groups, saying the countries concerned should "refrain from adding new complex factors" to the situation in Syria.The Pentagon said the strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month that killed one civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member and other coalition troops.

 

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Published February 26th, 2021 at 18:13 IST

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