China called out the U.S. for what it says was an application of "double standard" when the latter sent the last three Chinese Uighur detainees at Guantanamo Bay military prison to Slovakia rather than back to China.
China considers the three detainees as terrorists and wanted them sent back to China "as soon as possible." The three were part of a group of Uighurs handed over to the U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2001. Initially thought to have connections with Al Qaeda, the group was sent to Guantanamo Bay in 2002 for further investigation.
After having determined that they have no links to Al Qaeda, the U.S. has decided to release them. The Chinese government however claims that the three are members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The Chinese Foreign Ministry says ETIM is listed as a terrorist group and sanctioned by the United Nations.
Foreign Ministry spokeman Qin Gang stressed that the three "are genuine terrorists" who "not only threaten China's security but will threaten the security of the country that receives them." Fearing that the three may be persecuted if returned to China, the U.S. asked other nations if they'd be willing to resettle them. Tuesday's announcement of their release also revealed that Slovakia has agreed to accept the three detainees for resettlement.
Qin rejected the U.S. stance that China has a history of persecuting Uighurs. He pointed out that any actions taken against Uighurs were a legitimate response to terrorist acts committed by Uighur separatists against the Chinese state and its citizens.
Qin went on to say that statements from the U.S. "ignore the facts, sound feeble and can't be justified." Qin argued that all nations have a "common understanding of combatting terrorism" rather than "giving terrorists habitat."
The release and transfer to Slovakia, according to Qin, was evidence of the U.S.'s double standard and that the move gave the wrong signal to violent terrorist forces. "Do not do to others what you don't want done to yourself," Qin said.