China humiliated as Europe trip cancelled after Uyghur protests

Following a barrage of demonstrations held outside the Foreign Office, a deeply controversial visit by a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official has been abandoned. Erkin Tuniyaz, the so-called governor of Xinjiang (the Chinese name for East Turkestan), was understood to have made plans to visit Britain, France, and Belgium in a whistle-stop tour this week. [1]

Contents

Governor accused of murder by top UK politician Fight for Uyghur freedom continues to grow Bad apples sow distrust and hamper Uyghur cause Ethnic cleansing Tuniyaz planned UK trip without official invitation Also read

The embarrassing cancellation is indicative of the growing global opposition to China’s genocidal policies against the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples of East Turkestan.

Governor accused of murder by top UK politician

Speaking during a Monday demonstration outside the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the former Conservative Leader of the Opposition, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, said,

“We do not meet with people who murder others. Government should be above that.

“There is no negotiation until China stops what it is doing and restores the rights, privileges, and freedoms for the people of Xinjiang who are Uyghur.” [2]

The former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions added,

“We face the reality that there is a strong possibility that the government may end up in some other location with officials meeting the man who is responsible for what we believe to be a genocide in Xinjiang. That is simply unacceptable.

“It is unacceptable for the government to pretend that because a minister doesn’t meet him, somehow it is unofficial. It is not.” [2]

Fight for Uyghur freedom continues to grow

The Stand4Uyghurs coalition continues to see an uptake in participation among demonstrations and other such projects.

It is also most welcome to see world governments and legislatures calling out the CCP for its oppressive rule over the subjugated East Turkestani people. [3] [4]

Prior to the cancellation of Tuniyaz’s European trip, senior British government officials and Members of Parliament (MPs) decried the plan.

In addition, European politicians have grilled the bloc’s leaders for what was reported as a possible “red carpet” welcome for the genocide facilitator. [1]

Maira Khan, the Campaigns Co-ordinator and Stand4Uyghurs lead at Islam21c, said of the developments,

“The persistence and strength of our Uyghur brothers and sisters, the solidarity of activists and supporters globally, and the continuous pressure on institutions, proves that we can work together to end the grave injustice Uyghurs and other Muslims face in East Turkestan.

“We hope that the UK government will uphold their commitment to international laws and not work with those enabling genocide by welcoming or associating with anyone from the CCP. Saying that, we should be aware that the UK government has still failed to recognise forced Uyghur labour, implement sanctions on China, or publicly recognise the genocide.

“While the UK and US are busy with their geopolitical war with China, we must keep the Uyghurs’ voices at the forefront of our activism. We must come together and call for an end to the ethnic genocide and systematic targeting of Uyghurs’ Islamic faith. We must stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters. #Stand4Uyghurs”

Bad apples sow distrust and hamper Uyghur cause

Despite hailing from Uyghur roots, Tuniyaz is a lifelong CCP politician and loyalist.

Born in 1961 in the East Turkestan city of Aksu, he has worked at various CCP-affiliated entities for the better part of forty years. [5]

In his current position as Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), Tuniyaz has overseen and proudly defended the Chinese regime’s use of concentration camps.

These facilities, often desperately referred to as “vocational education and training centres”, have been clearly documented as being high-security prisons, where unspeakable abuses have occurred against the Uyghurs.

Ethnic cleansing

Horrific and overwhelming first-hand evidence of the gang rape of Uyghur women, torture against Uyghur men, and the forced “re-education” of millions of Uyghurs, has tainted China’s government.

Moreover, many Uyghur women have been forcibly sterilised, in an appalling ethnic cleansing drive. [6]

Despite major events such as the Uyghur Tribunal, and hugely successful Stand4Uyghurs demonstrations in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere, Tuniyaz has previously stated,

“By setting up vocational education and training centres in accordance with the law, we aim to educate and save those who were influenced by religious extremism and committed minor legal offences.” [5]

Tuniyaz planned UK trip without official invitation

What makes the failed trip even more embarrassing is that the British government has claimed that it had not issued an official invitation for Tuniyaz to visit. [7]

The South China Morning Post reports that an anonymous government source said,