Beijing lashes Marise Payne over China’s human rights call

The Foreign Minister has drawn the ire of a Chinese counterpart over her comments about the Uighurs.

China says Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s comments show ‘total disregard of facts to serve political purposes’ Picture: Chris Pavlich

Beijing has lashed Foreign Minister Marise Payne after she warned Australia would not hesitate to call out human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang Province.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Senator Payne’s comments showed “total disregard of facts to serve political purposes”.

“Such ill-advised remarks will not help to improve or grow relations with China. We have lodged stern representations to the Australian side and pointed out the inappropriate nature of her conduct,” Mr Geng said.

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“We have repeatedly stated that a sound and stable China-Australia relationship serves the fundamental interests of both peoples.

“We hope the Australian side will learn from recent setbacks in our relations and meet China halfway rather than take one step forward and two steps backward.”

In her speech to the US Studies Centre this week, Senator Payne tackled China on its treatment of ­minority Uighurs in Xinjiang province, where up to two million Muslims are detained in “re-education­” camps.

She said the government would also continue to advocate for detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is being held by Beijing for alleged but un­explained spying offences.

“We must respect each other’s sovereignty but we will consistently continue to raise issues such as human rights, including with China,” Senator Payne said.

“We will do so not just because we believe individual rights should apply to all people but ­because we believe nations that uphold such principles domestically are more likely to co-operate in ways that promote the common good globally.”

Australia also joined with 22 other nations at the United Nations this week to condemn China’s mass ­detention and surveillance of ­Uighurs in Xinjiang Province.

A statement endorsed by Australia called on China to end arbitrary detention of Uighurs and members of other Muslim communities.

Presented by Britain’s permanent ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, it was also backed by the US, Japan, New Zealand and a host of European nations.

The signatories expressed concern at “credible reports of mass detention; efforts to restrict cultural and religious practices; mass surveillance disproportionately targeting ethnic Uighurs; and other human rights violations and abuses in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region”.