China resolutely opposes and rejects the erroneous remarks made by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, on December 15 regarding Xinjiang-related issues, which denigrates China's ethnic and religious policies and seriously interferes in China's internal affairs.

The remarks made by the US Representative are totally unfounded. At present, Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic development, improved livelihoods, ethnic unity, religious harmony, and cultural prosperity. The freedom of religious belief of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang is fully guaranteed, and the development of human rights there is at its best in history. The US side, with no regard for facts, has been repeatedly fabricating lies and using Xinjiang-related issues to contain China. Such attempts are doomed to fail.

By contrast, in the United States, there are numerous examples of the politicization of religion, church scandals, prevalence of cults, and  religious discrimination and persecution. The freedom of religion has been gravely violated, with 75 per cent of Muslims in the country suffering from serious discrimination. The United States is in no position whatsoever to point fingers at other countries.

At present, the fighting in Gaza has led to an intensifying humanitarian crisis, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinian women and children. However, the United States has chosen to stand on the opposite side of the international community by opposing a ceasefire and condoning the fighting. This only once again exposes to the whole world its double standards and sheer hypocrisy.