Beijing came down hard on certain countries and organizations on Friday for exploiting Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in its internal affairs, saying that the law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand targeting illegal border crossings is a lawful practice that is in alignment with international law and established global practices.

The response came as countries and blocs including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the European Union issued statements condemning Thailand's repatriation of 40 Chinese nationals who illegally entered the country back to China.

"China resolutely opposes the use of human rights as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs under the guise of the so-called Xinjiang issue, and to disrupt normal law enforcement cooperation between China and relevant countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing on Friday.

Beijing and Bangkok have ratcheted up law enforcement cooperation over the past few months, targeting wrongdoings including cross-border online gambling and scams.

Lin emphasized that the latest repatriation operation on Thursday was conducted in accordance with Chinese and Thai laws, international law, and established international practices.

The spokesman criticized certain countries and international organizations for baselessly smearing the legitimate law enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand in combating cross-border crimes like human smuggling — even politicizing the issue by fabricating lies about Xinjiang.

As a country practicing the rule of law, China has put in place a comprehensive legal framework and operational mechanism for human rights protection in the judicial field, Lin stressed.

China's achievements in human rights protection have been widely recognized, and people of all ethnic groups, including the Uygur people in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, fully enjoy economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, he said.

"Illegal migration and smuggling are internationally recognized crimes, which seriously disrupt the normal cross-border order," he said.

China will continue to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries to jointly address the challenges posed by cross-border crimes, safeguard orderly cross-border movement of personnel, and protect the lawful rights and interests of those entering or exiting China, he added.

zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn

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