Pompeo sowing discord between China and Central Asian countries, govt says

The United States was trying to sow discord between China and the five Central Asian nations by making groundless accusations on China's policy in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday called on Central Asian governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to reject Chinese demands to repatriate ethnic Uygurs.

Geng slammed Pompeo's claim that China is trying to "erase" minority cultures and religions, saying Pompeo lacks common sense.

Noting the five Central Asian nations are close neighbors of China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, he said they know much better than the US about the real situation in Xinjiang, including the region's economic and social development, harmonious life of its people as well as freedom of religious belief.

As friendly neighbors and strategic partners, China and the Central Asian countries "share weal and woe," Geng said, adding that the stability of Xinjiang is in line with the common interests between the two sides.

According to Geng, Central Asian countries have always understood and supported China on the Xinjiang issue, and speak highly of the anti-terrorism and de-radicalization measures taken by the region.

China believes that the Central Asian nations are committed to developing friendly relationship with China and jointly cracking down the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and the determination will not be compromised by anti-China forces, he said.

"Any attempt to drive a wedge between China and Central Asian nations will not succeed," he added.