UNITED NATIONS: The United States and other western countries have objected to a visit by the United Nations counter-terrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov, a veteran Russian diplomat to China’s remote Xinjiang. U.N. experts say some one million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims are held in detention centers of Xinjiang.

U.N. Counter-terrorism Chief is in China at the invitation of Beijing and is due to visit Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi. Diplomats said that along with the United States several other countries, including Britain, also complained. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan spoke with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday “to convey deep concerns” about Voronkov’s trip because “Beijing continues to paint its repressive campaign against Uighurs and other Muslims as legitimate counter-terrorism efforts when it is not.”

“The Deputy Secretary expressed that such a visit is highly inappropriate in view of the unprecedented repression campaign underway in Xinjiang against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Muslims,” the U.S. State Department said. “The U.N.’s topmost counter-terrorism official is putting at risk the U.N.’s reputation and credibility on counter-terrorism and human rights by lending credence to these false claims,” the statement said.

China has been condemned and criticized internationally for setting up the detention complexes, which it describes as “education training centers” helping to eliminate extremism and impart people new skills. Western states are worried Voronkov’s visit will validate China’s justification. (Agencies)