Fifteen Countries Urge China to Address Human Rights Concerns in Tibet and Xinjiang

In a call to action, a coalition of Western nations urged China on Tuesday to release all arbitrarily detained Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans, and to permit independent human rights observers access to assess conditions in these regions, VOA reported yesterday.

Australian Ambassador to the UN, James Larsen, emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “We call on China to allow unfettered and meaningful access to Xinjiang and Tibet for independent observers, including from the UN.”

Larsen spoke on behalf of 15 countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, and Japan, during a UN General Assembly committee meeting focused on human rights. Human rights groups accuse Beijing of detaining as many as 1 million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in “reeducation camps” in Xinjiang. It has also cracked down on freedoms in Tibet.

Larsen referenced reports from UN human rights experts highlighting concerns over arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, forced labor, and the destruction of cultural sites. He criticized China for dismissing the UN’s findings as “illegal and void,” stressing that no country is above scrutiny regarding its human rights obligations.

In response, Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong rejected the allegations, accusing Western nations of “weaponizing” human rights for political gain. He argued that the focus should shift to global crises, such as the situation in Gaza.