'Forced labor' label belongs to US

BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States has repeatedly smeared China by fabricating claims of "forced labor" in Xinjiang, but facts show that the label of "forced labor" belongs to the United States itself, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a query on a statement issued by a group of United Nations human rights experts, saying the United States' anti-terrorism program "Rewards for Justice" is violating the human rights of some individuals it targets.

On the grounds of suspected participation in terrorist activities, the United States often coerces people from other countries to cooperate with the United States against their own wishes by threatening them with sanctions and other coercive means, which comes under the umbrella of "forced labor" as defined by the International Labour Organization, Wang said.

Noting these acts infringe upon the right to work, freedom of movement and reputation of the persons concerned, and seriously violate the humanitarian spirit and international law, Wang said relevant experts on special mechanisms also said they have raised the above concerns with the U.S. government many times, yet they have received no response to date.

"China urges the United States to listen to the concerns of the international community, examine its own serious human rights problems and take concrete measures to improve them," said the spokesperson.