China on Tuesday politely declined UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s call for a meaningful access to verify the serious reports of human rights violations in the restive region of Xinjiang, saying she is welcome for a “friendly visit” but not to pursue a probe with presumption of guilt. The US and the EU besides many other countries have accused China of committing a genocide against the minority Muslim Uygurs in Xinjiang and called for an international probe by human rights groups.
In her address to the 47th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Bachelet said, I continue to discuss with China modalities for a visit, including meaningful access, to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and hope this can be achieved this year, particularly as reports of serious human rights violations continue to emerge. China has been vehemently refuting allegations of interning millions of Uygurs in mass detention camps, which were officially termed…