Zhao Lijian: The US side has a shocking conspiracy on Xinjiang-related issues, and smearing Xinjiang cotton is part of it

Source: Global Times - Global Network

At the regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on March 29, a reporter asked: In response to the Chinese people's spontaneous boycott of foreign brands that refuse to use Xinjiang cotton, the US State Department spokesman said that this was led by the Chinese government and condemned it. The U.S. White House press secretary said China used foreign companies' dependence on its own market to suppress free speech. What is China's comment on this?

"I have noticed the relevant news," spokesman Zhao Lijian said in response to relevant questions, saying that some people in the United States not only stigmatized Xinjiang cotton, seriously harming the cotton planting industry in Xinjiang and even China's overall economic interests, but also tried to separate the Chinese government from the public opinion. "We have said more than once that there is no so-called 'forced labor' in Xinjiang cotton production. Cotton miners in Xinjiang have signed labor contracts with cotton farmers on the basis of equality, voluntariness and consensus, and there is no need to engage in any coercion at all. ”

According to data from the Xinjiang Agricultural Department, the mechanical picking rate of cotton in Xinjiang has reached 70% in 2020. Zhao Lijian further said that according to my understanding, growers can order machine picking services through mobile phone APP and stay at home, and it can be said that cotton picking has entered the "Internet +" era. At this time, a small number of countries and individuals are still making up stories of so-called "forced labor", is it forced machine labor?

"I also noted that the Shanghai representative office of the Swiss Good Cotton Development Association (BCI) recently issued a statement saying that the china project team has been reviewing and verifying the credibility of the Xinjiang project site since 2012, and has never found a single case of 'forced labor'. We cannot help but ask, since the Association did not find 'forced labour', where did the conclusion of 'forced labour' come from? Please come up with solid evidence. ”

In addition, Zhao Lijian said, some have accused "the Chinese government of inciting nationalist sentiment and encouraging the public to boycott foreign goods." Zhao Lijian then said that the refusal of foreign companies to use Xinjiang cotton based on lies is a living negative teaching material, which will of course arouse the disgust and anger of the Chinese people. "Does this still need the government to 'agitate' and 'guide'?" Zhao Lijian asked rhetorically.

Zhao Lijian said that the US side also slandered China for engaging in "behind-the-scenes manipulation", which reminds me of the video played by my colleagues at a press conference last week, former US Secretary of State Powell's office director and former Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson's speech at the Ron Paul College in August 2018, which fully shows that the United States and the West have a terrifying conspiracy on Xinjiang-related issues, and they are trying to disrupt Xinjiang and thus curb China's development. Their smear of Xinjiang cotton is part of a conspiracy.

Returning to the topic of Xinjiang cotton, Zhao Lijian stressed that it is necessary to pay attention to respect in doing business, earning money from Chinese consumers on the one hand, and smearing and attacking China and harming China's interests on the other. To use a saying, "eating Chinese rice, still smashing The Chinese pot", where in the world is there such a beautiful thing?

Zhao Lijian finally said that the Chinese market is always open, we welcome foreign enterprises to invest in China, and always create a good environment for enterprises from all over the world to invest in China. We also hope that the relevant enterprises will operate in China in a legal and compliant manner, and will not become a tool of some political forces, let alone challenge the chinese public opinion.