By ZHOU JIN | Updated: 2019-12-04 09:28

Two local farmers walk past a residential house painted with a Chinese flag in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in Makit county, Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 23, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

China expressed strong indignation and firm opposition on Wednesday to the passage of a Xinjiang-related bill by the United States House of Representatives, urging Washington to stop pushing the bill to become law.

China will respond further if necessary, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in an online statement.

The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 smeared the human rights situation in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, slandered China's efforts to crack down on extremism and terrorism and attacked the Chinese government's policy in the region, Hua said.

Noting what Xinjiang faces is not about ethnicity, religion or human rights but about fighting violence, terrorism and separatism, Hua urged the US to stop using Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.

The government of Xinjiang autonomous region lawfully fought violent and terrorist crimes while addressing the root causes, making efforts to advance de-radicalization, economic growth, ethnic solidarity, social harmony and stability, according to Hua.

Thanks to those efforts, Xinjiang hasn't seen a single terrorist attack over the past three years, she said, adding that those endeavors are endorsed by all 25 million people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang and also mark China's contribution to the global counter-terrorism cause.

Since the end of 2018, over 1,000 representatives have visited Xinjiang in more than 70 groups, including officials from various countries, regions and international organizations, and people from the press, religious groups and the academic circle.

They acclaimed that Xinjiang's experience in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization was worth learning from, the spokeswoman said.

In March this year, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation adopted a resolution which commended China's efforts "in providing care to its Muslim citizens".

In July, ambassadors of over 50 countries to the UN Office at Geneva co-signed a letter to the president of the UN Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, applauding China's respect and protection of human rights in its counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts.

In October, at the Third Committee session of the 74th UNGA, more than 60 countries commended in their statements the tremendous human rights progress achieved in Xinjiang.

All those are strong proof that the US accusations on Xinjiang-related issues are entirely against facts and the mainstream public opinion of the international community, Hua said.

She noted that the bill passed by US House of Representatives will only reveal the double standards the US has adopted in anti-terrorism as well as its hypocrisy and wicked intention.

The US was using Xinjiang-related issue to sow discord among various ethnic groups in China, undermine Xinjiang's prosperity and stability, and curb China's development, she said, adding such attempts will not succeed.

Vice-Foreign Minister summons US diplomat

Vice-Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Wednesday summoned William Klein, a senior official of the US embassy in China, to lodge stern representations and strong protests against the United States House of Representatives for passing the Uygur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019.

Qin called on the US side to immediately correct its mistake, abandon double standards on the anti-terrorism issue, prevent the bill from becoming law, and stop using Xinjiang as a way to interfere in China’s domestic affairs.

He said China will respond further according to the development of the situation.

Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is a part of China, and Xinjiang affairs are China's internal affairs, which brook no foreign interference, he said.

Any attempt to sow discord among various ethnic groups in China, undermine the prosperity and stability of Xinjiang, and curb China's development will not succeed, he added.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body

The so-called Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 passed by the United States House of Representative is packed with vicious attacks on the human rights' situation in Xinjiang. It has distorted and smeared China's efforts in fighting extremism and terrorism. Also, it also launches groundless accusations against Chinese government's policies in Xinjiang.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory

The passage of the act against China is a crude move to interfere in China's internal affairs and severely violates the basic principles of international relations.

By passing act, the US is actually showing supports to terrorism. The move will severely damage international counter-terrorism cooperation.

National Ethnic Affairs Commission

The US House of Representatives passed a so-called "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019" on Tuesday local time, maliciously attacking the human rights conditions in Xinjiang.

The so-called Xinjiang act distorts the facts and is full of prejudice against China's policy over Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. It obliterates Xinjiang's development achievements and ignores the true feelings of the people of all ethnic groups.

Liu Yuejin, head of China's national anti-terrorism leading group office

The US viciously smeared and criticized the Chinese government's Xinjiang policies, counter-terrorism efforts and the human rights situation in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which fully exposed the US's double standards and the purpose of gross interference in China's internal affairs.

Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the Xinjiang regional government

Some foreign media outlets with prejudice and officials with ulterior motives have been intentionally stirring up the so-called Xinjiang issue, and maliciously attacking the autonomous region's education and training work that aims to help people break free from extremism. Such moves have exposed their intentions of attempting to separate China and creating chaos.

The Standing Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional People's Congress

The so-called "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019" disregarded Xinjiang's stability and development and the fact that people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang live and work in harmony and contentment.

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

By totally disregarding the facts, the "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019" smeared and unreasonably criticized the human rights situation, counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures in Xinjiang, as well as China's policies concerning ethnic groups and religious affairs.

"It has severely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and sent a completely wrong signal to violent and terrorist forces."