Beijing said on Monday that Xinjiang is part of China's domestic affairs and China will continue to implement its Xinjiang policy to ensure the western region's stability and development.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that certain Western media were attempting to smear counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts by fabricating such news.

"The most powerful response to certain media and individuals is Xinjiang's lasting prosperity, stability, ethnic solidarity and social harmony."

The remarks came after Western media accused China of setting up "internment camps" to detain Muslims in the region. A New York Times report on November 16 said the Chinese government was detaining ethnic Uygurs in the region. On Sunday, news agency Reuters cited an international organization, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, saying there was a second leak of classified documents concerning Xinjiang's mistreatment of the ethnic minority. 

China has repeatedly denied such accusations, saying that Xinjiang has not suffered any terror attacks in the past three years.

In a daily briefing on Friday, Geng stressed that "China will show no mercy to violent radicals and terrorists, and will spare no effort to protect people's life and safety."

China's Xinjiang policy is to guarantee the region's sound development, he said. "The most powerful response to certain media and individuals is Xinjiang's lasting prosperity, stability, ethnic solidarity and social harmony."

(Cover: Cars in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, November 17, 2019. /VCG Photo)