Ties with Muslim world will not be upset

• Source: Global Times
• [07:36 July 16 2009]
• Comments

On Monday, Algeria-based Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) threatened to target Chinese interests across northwest Africa in retaliation for the deaths of Uygurs in Urumqi.

In Turkey, top officials gave strong words and thousands of people took to the streets protesting against the “genocide” in China and even calling for a boycott of Chinese products.
It is reported most of the participants in the protest were from Eastern Turkistan forces greatly influenced by religious extremism, separatism and international terrorism. These forces seriously threaten Xinjiang’s security.

Under these circumstances, Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao, a Chinese-language newspaper, said in its top news report that the Xinjiang riots have “strained China’s relations with the Muslim world.”

Actually, just after the riots took place on July 5, many Western media outlets misled readers, certainly including those in Muslim countries, by saying there was a “suppression” of Muslims in Xinjiang. This didn’t present the truth and could cause misunderstanding among Muslim people.

However, it is really ridiculous to let world-recognized terrorists and a small group of separatists and extremists represent the entire Muslim world.

At the same time, Turkey is the only Muslim country that voiced strong words against China, with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing China of committing “genocide” in Xinjiang. The Chinese government has dismissed the accusation and said “we hope that our Muslim brothers can realize the truth.”

In fact, China has fostered friendly relations with the Muslim world for a long time. China has set up diplomatic relations with all Muslim countries. These good relations are substantial, not only politically but also economically and culturally.

While getting along well with Muslim countries by showing respect and goodwill, China joins many other countries in the world in resolutely cracking down on terrorism and separatism that seriously endangers our people’s lives and security.

Actually, overseas separatists behind the riots are doing their best to incite ethnic hatred in a way to damage China’s image in the world, especially in the Muslim world. However, we believe that Muslim people will understand the truth. The truth is that the Xinjiang riots were premeditated killings which impacted people from different ethnic groups, instead of so-called “religious clashes.” The Chinese government is protecting the lives of all people in Xinjiang.

In China, there are 10 ethnic groups that are predominantly Muslim, with a population of about 20 million. Along with the Han, they are members of China’s big family of ethnic groups. Their freedom of religion is fully respected and protected.

Any terrorism threat and any separatist action cannot frighten the Chinese government, or its people. While maintaining friendly relations with the Muslim world, China will firmly carry out its fight against terrorism and separatism as we know security and unity are the common wishes of all people in Xinjiang, in China and in the Muslim world.