(Fox News) China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the White House’s claim that President Biden addressed “genocide” and “forced labor” on a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday told the media that the president raised ethical concerns over forced labor and ethnic genocide in China.
The Chinese MFA denied the alleged conversation entirely, saying, “According to White House Press Secretary, ‘genocide’ & ‘forced labor’ came up in last night’s call between Chinese & US Presidents. That is disinformation.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian gestures during a press conference in Beijing on July 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Liu Zheng)
A similar message was pushed separately in which the MFA called the alleged conversation “pure lies” and “false information.”
“Pure lies,” MFA spokesperson Lijian Zhao said of the White House’s claim. “White House spokesperson said the issues of genocide and forced labor were mentioned in the call last night, that is false information.”
China has been accused of wrongfully imprisoning up to 3 million Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, as well as carrying out forced sterilizations and abortions. Chinese authorities claim camps in the region are “re-education” facilities combating Islamic extremism.
Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in December, a bipartisan piece of legislation that prevents the importation of goods made via forced labor in the Xinjiang region.
According to White House Press Secretary, “genocide” & “forced labor” came up in last night’s call between Chinese & US Presidents. That is disinformation. pic.twitter.com/sKdZQfqVnJ
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) July 29, 2022
Biden held his longest call with Xi on Thursday morning amid tensions between the two world powers.
