China Dismisses ‘Unfounded’ Pompeo Allegations on Mistreatment of Women

“Facts are facts,” and "the international community will not be fooled by the lies” of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said a Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Friday. Pompeo accused the Chinese government Thursday of subjecting women to “forced abortion, forced sterilization, and involuntary implantation of birth control devices” as part of its campaign “against Uyghurs and members of other minority groups.” He further accused the Chinese Communist Party of continuing to use “censorship and arbitrary detentions to crack down on the freedoms of expression and association of China’s women’s rights advocates.” Pompeo’s allegations are “completely unfounded,” said the ministry spokesperson. “The Chinese government protects the rights and interests of all ethnic minorities in equal measure, with preferential population policies toward minority groups, including Uyghurs.” Women in the U.S., “in direct contrast,” still face “systemic, prevalent and institutional discrimination and threat,” and are “21 times more likely to die” from gun violence than women in other “high-income countries,” he said. The State Department didn’t respond to questions.