China claims improved living standards and ethnic equality in Xinjiang while ignoring allegations

China’s State Council has released a white paper detailing progress made in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The report, published on July 14, 2021, claims that the government has improved ethnic equality and living standards among all ethnic groups. It said that over 60 per cent of Xinjiang’s regional legislators are from ethnic minority groups. Since 2017, China has faced international criticism over alleged forced labour, genocide and other abuses against the Uygur Muslim population. Beijing has denied these allegations, which the white paper does not address.