UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet begins a long-awaited visit to the Chinese region of Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of carrying out a fierce crackdown on Uyghur Muslims, on Tuesday (24 May).
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This trip takes place almost behind closed doors, the UN delegation being required to integrate, in the name of the epidemic situation in China, a health bubble which keeps it away from the foreign press.
No details on the precise places Michelle Bachelet will visit have been made public, which raises questions about the real latitude she will have on the ground.
"Clarifying misinformation"
However, China has already clearly stated its objectives.
During a one-on-one Monday with Michelle Bachelet in Canton (south), the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, expressed the hope that his stay would help “
to clarify misinformation
” about his country, according to his ministry.
"
We hope that this visit will allow you to get to the bottom of things, to talk about facts and reality, in order to silence rumors and lies
," Wang Yi said.
Michelle Bachelet is the first UN human rights official to visit China since 2005, after years of negotiations with Beijing over the terms of her visit to Xinjiang.
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During a videoconference Monday with representatives of foreign embassies, she assured that she would visit detention centers and meet with human rights activists, according to diplomatic sources.
