China hits back after 22 countries condemn Muslim detention centres

China's foreign ministry has attacked a statement by 22 Western countries at the United Nations urging it to stop holding members of its Muslim population in detention centres. Spokesman Geng Shuang called the measures necessary for national security and accused the countries of trampling on China's sovereignty.

He said at a daily briefing that the letter "disregarded the facts, slandered and attacked China with unwarranted accusations, flagrantly politicised human rights issues and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs".