Beijing's Reaction Following UN's Deep Concern Over the Situation of Millions of Muslims in China

After a UN delegation expressed 'deep' concern about the situation of the Uyghurs in western China, a state publication in Beijing claimed that a 'major disaster' has been averted. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, based in Geneva, stated in a report published on August 10 that one million Uyghur citizens are 'secretly detained in something resembling a large camp.' The committee expressed 'deep concern' over various reports indicating that the Chinese government has turned the Uyghur Autonomous Region [Xinjiang] into something akin to a very large and secret camp, as it claims to combat 'religious extremism.' According to 'Radio Free Asia,' since April 2017, Uyghurs accused of 'having extremist religious views' have been detained in places known as 're-education camps' throughout the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Meanwhile, many Uyghur and Muslim citizens of China have criticized the government for 'discrimination' and 'cultural and religious pressures.' The Chinese government claims that the Xinjiang region faces security threats due to the presence of Islamist militant and separatist groups, which it alleges conspire to exacerbate tensions between 'Uyghurs' and 'Han' - the main indigenous groups in China. Hundreds have lost their lives during conflicts and tensions in the region over the past years. Previously, the 'Global Times,' a state-run newspaper in China, denied the existence of these camps, stating they are 'educational and training institutions' and that Western media 'unfoundedly criticize human rights conditions in China.' Now, the Global Times has responded to the UN committee's report in an article published on August 12, stating that 'there is no doubt that part of the current calm in the Xinjiang region is due to strict regulations. Police and security forces are seen everywhere.' However, according to this state newspaper, the extensive presence of security forces is due to 'Xinjiang's transition to calm and prosperity.' The Global Times claims that the Chinese government has prevented a 'major disaster.' Gay McDougall, the deputy of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, stated on Sunday that 1.1 million people are being held in Xinjiang's 're-education camps' or have been held there. This figure is about 10 percent of the total adult Uyghur population in the region. According to Ms. McDougall, another 2.2 million people have been 'forced to attend unmonitored re-education camps.' The Global Times accuses Western countries of deflection and states in another part of its article that the Xinjiang region 'has no place for destructive public opinions from the West.' The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to the UN committee's report.