China expresses its protest against the US House of Representatives for approving a bill that may lead to some Chinese officials being sanctioned for alleged mistreatment of the Uyghur people.

The Sputnik news agency had quoted the Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesperson Hua Chunying as saying on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the US passed the Uyghur human rights policy act 2019, tasking various US government's agencies with providing reports on the Uyghur situation in China.

This is to facilitate if certain Chinese officials could be sanctioned under the global magnitsky human rights accountability act.

"The US House of Representatives has adopted the so-called Uyghur human rights policy act. 

"This document deliberately discredits the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, denigrates China's efforts against terrorism and radicalisation in every way.

This is a malicious attack on the Chinese government's administrative policy, gravely violates the international law and the fundamental principles of the international relations, the Chinese side expresses strong indignation and a decisive protest," she said during a press briefing.

In late August 2018, the UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination reported that large numbers of ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities were being held in political "reeducation camps" in Xinjiang.

They are often detained for long periods, and without being charged or tried under the pretext of countering terrorism and religious extremism. 

The Chinese foreign ministry has refuted these claims as unfounded and not reflective of reality.

According to Chinese authorities, they have established vocational education and training centres so that people can learn language and law, gain professional skills and also help strengthen the resistance to extremism and terrorism.

- Bernama