India is a victim of terrorism: China says in white paper justifying actions in Uyghur Muslim inhabited Xinjiang

The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China recently released a white paper titled "Vocational Education and Training in Xinjiang" amid global condemnation for running internment camps (what China calls re-education camps) which have been operated by the People's Republic of China Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional government for the purpose of interning Muslims since 2014.

Advocates of Uyghur independence call the region East Turkestan. 

In the paper, the country mentioned India in a list of counties hit by the trouble of terrorism.

"Since the 1990s the global spread and aggravation of terrorism and extremism have wrought havoc. Influenced by extremism, terrorist attacks and related incidents have caused heavy casualties and property damage in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and other countries and regions. World peace is under serious threat, and the future of humanity is overshadowed," the report said.

"Between 1990 and the end of 2016 separatists, religious extremists and terrorists plotted and carried out several thousand acts of terrorism such as bombings, assassinations, poisoning, arson, assaults, and riots in Xinjiang. Many innocent people were killed and several hundred police officers died in the line of duty. The property losses incurred were enormous," it said.

While China backs Pakistan in its fight against India as part of its geopolitical strategy, the report said the fight against terrorism and extremism is a global challenge.

Human rights activists have over the years said countless Muslims have been arbitrarily detained by Chinese authorities in detention centres in Xinjiang. 

China said education and training in Xinjiang are practiced in line with the spirit and requirements of the rule of law in China.

"Xinjiang’s practice of educating and rehabilitating the victims of terrorist and religious extremist teachings through vocational education and training centers is similar to efforts by other countries and regions, with the same goals of dealing with the problem at source and protecting people’s basic human rights," the paper said.

The paper said no terrorist incidents have occurred in Xinjiang for nearly three years since the education and training started.

However, China said in the paper that in a bid to divide the country terrorism and extremism have a long history in Xinjiang.

"From the early 20th century to the late 1940s, separatist and religious extremist forces, spreading 'Pan-Turkism' and 'Pan-Islamism', attempted to create a theocratic state they called 'East Turkistan' in Xinjiang," it said.

The paper said: "In an attempt to split China, such forces advocated religious extremism and carried out a series of terrorist activities. For years religious extremism continued to make inroads into Xinjiang, resulting in incidents of terrorism."