China defends crackdown on Uygur Muslims over "countering terrorism"
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New Delhi: China is holding silence on India's abstention during the voting at the United Nations Human Rights council UNHRC that sought to address the human rights situation in Xinjiang
The attempt to hold China accountable for its alleged human right violations in Xinjiang has fallen through at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The draft resolution on "holding a debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China" was rejected after 19 members voted against it alongside 11 abstentions, including India, Brazil, Mexico and Ukraine.
Despite facing a major international push against its treatment of Uygur Muslims, China is no mood to soul-searching, but instead chose to defend its crackdown straightaway.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said its treatment of Uygur Muslims intended to counter "terrorism and separatism" in the region.
Days after abstaining from voting at the UN on Xinjiang issue, India asked China to respect and guarantee rights of the people in the region.
India's comments come against the backdrop of the continuing border dispute in eastern Ladakh.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to India's stand saying the issues related to Xinjiang were not about human rights but about countering violent terrorism, radicalisation and separatism.
Mao wouldn't answer the question seeking her reaction to India's abstention at the UNHRC voting in Geneva.
China's harsh treatment of Uyghur Muslims, holding nearly a million Uyghur's in the camps, has long been facing criticism globally.
