BEIJING - The China Foundation for Human Rights Development Thursday strongly condemned and protested against the passage of a Xinjiang-related bill by the US House of Representatives.

Disregarding the fact that basic human rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are well-protected, the so-called "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019" distorted and smeared Xinjiang's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts, the foundation said in a statement. "It is a gross interference in China's internal affairs and the 1.4 billion Chinese people will never accept it."

"Only people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang know the best and have the best say in the situation of human rights in the region. The past few years have marked a significant milestone in the development of human rights in Xinjiang," said the statement.

Given that in a certain period of time, violent terrorist incidents had frequently occurred and brought about great suffering to local people of all ethnic groups, Xinjiang has taken a series of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures and local security situation has greatly improved, it said.

Currently, the situation in Xinjiang features economic development, social stability, ethnic unity and people living and working in peace and contentment, the statement said. "The human rights situation in Xinjiang is getting better and better and has won positive comments from the international community."

Some US politicians turn a deaf ear to the heavy innocent casualties in terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and turn a blind eye to the progress Xinjiang has made in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, as well as in the protection of human rights, according to the statement.

They are not really concerned about human rights in China, but have ulterior motives, said the statement. "Their purpose is to tarnish China's image, disrupt China's stability and contain China's development."

The United States is known for its notorious human rights violations, such as racial and gender discrimination, and a flood of guns. It waged overseas wars that caused severe human rights disasters to relevant countries and regions.

However, US politicians always cast a veil over those facts, highlighting the US double standard on counter-terrorism and human rights issues, and fully exposing its hypocrisy and extreme self-interest, the statement said.

The foundation warned the United States to stop this ridiculous political farce which confuses right and wrong, and stop threatening and interfering with China's sovereignty and human rights.

It also called on the international community to fully recognize the hypocrisy of the United States on the human rights issue and enhance their understanding of the real situation in China.