Repatriated Chinese nationals reunite with their family members at airport. Photo: China's Ministry of Public Security

Themk Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Embassy in the UK, and the Chinese Mission to the EU on Friday slammed certain countries of pointing fingers at the normal law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand, after 40 Chinese nationals involved in illegal immigration were repatriated from Thailand to China on Thursday as part of joint efforts to combat cross-border crimes and protect the legitimate rights of Chinese citizens.

In response to the statements issued by the US, the UK, Germany and the European Union (EU), among others, which condemned Thailand's repatriation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that China firmly opposes using so-called Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs and disrupt normal law enforcement cooperation between China and relevant countries under the pretext of human rights. 

"Let me stress that the repatriation is carried out in accordance with the laws of China and Thailand as well as international law and common practices," Lin told at a routine press briefing.

China upholds the rule of law and has well-developed laws and regulations and working mechanisms in human rights protection in the judicial area. The achievements are there for all to see. People of all ethnic groups in China, including the Uygurs in Xinjiang, fully enjoy economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, the spokesperson noted.

"Certain countries and international organizations, in disregard of facts, have made unfounded accusations against the normal law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand on combating smuggling and other cross-border illegal and criminal activities, even fabricated false narratives related to Xinjiang, and politicized this issue," Lin said.

Besides, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in the UK said on Friday that the UK is reviving the notorious lies regarding Xinjiang, slandering China's policies on the region, and pointing a finger at the normal law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand. China strongly opposes and firmly rejects this.

While the UK demands others cooperate to curb illegal immigration across straits, it criticizes China-Thailand efforts against human trafficking, revealing the absurdity and hypocrisy of some UK politicians. We urge the UK to reflect on its own serious human rights problems and stop using human rights as an excuse to smear others and disrupt their lawful enforcement cooperation, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson from the Chinese Mission to the EU on Friday also expressed opposition to the attempts to use human rights as a pretext to interfere with China's internal affairs and to use Xinjiang-related issues to disturb normal law enforcement cooperation between countries.

Illegal migration and smuggling are internationally recognized crimes, which seriously disrupt the normal cross-border order. The Chinese government firmly opposes all forms of human smuggling. We will continue to fight crimes that involve obstructing national frontier and border administration in accordance with law, and hold those planning and organizing such activities accountable for legal responsibilities, the spokesperson said.

Hailing this repatriation operation as an upgrade of the joint law enforcement actions between China and Thailand, a Chinese expert on Asian studies who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Friday that under the framework of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, the cross-border law enforcement cooperation between the two countries is expected to further deepen and achieve more fruitful results.  The expert said that the US and some Western countries, under the guise of human rights, are trying to smear China on issues related to Xinjiang while attempting to exert pressure on Thailand. However, such attempts are doomed to fail since Thailand's actions are conducted within the framework of China-Thailand cooperation, which complies with international practice, the expert noted.