China has firmly denied recent allegations of forced labor in the Xinjiang region’s tomato industry. On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed claims made in a BBC report suggesting that some ketchup products in UK supermarkets might contain tomatoes sourced from Xinjiang using forced labor.
Lin Jian refuted the accusations during a daily press briefing, emphasizing that there is no such thing as forced labor in Xinjiang. “The Chinese government has always firmly opposed and cracked down hard on forced labor,” he stated.
Highlighting the advanced agricultural practices in the region, Lin noted that Xinjiang’s tomatoes, much like its renowned cotton, are high-quality products recognized worldwide. “From planting to harvesting, mechanization has been basically realized,” he explained, adding that the mechanical harvesting rate exceeds 90 percent and 85 percent respectively. “How could there be such a thing as ‘forced labor?'” he questioned.
China’s denial comes amid increasing international scrutiny over labor practices in Xinjiang. The government maintains that accusations of forced labor are unfounded and politically motivated.
Reference(s):
China refutes smears against Xinjiang on so-called "forced labor"
cgtn.com
