UN rights chief launches major trip to China starting on Monday

The UN rights chief will go to China’s Xinjiang province next week for a visit that will be closely scrutinized by the world community amid demands that she speak out against crimes against the country’s Uyghur minority.

Michelle Bachelet will begin a six-day trip to China on Monday, after years of asking for “meaningful and unrestricted” access to far-western Xinjiang, according to her office.

The visit, which is being hosted by Beijing, has been much anticipated and will be the first by a UN rights chief since Louise Arbour in 2005.

Since taking office in 2018, Bachelet has been seeking access to all parts of China.

She has expressed worry about reports of widespread abuses in Xinjiang on many occasions, but has been chastised for not taking a firmer position.

https://www.theasianaffairs.com/un-rights-chief-launches-major-trip-to-china-starting-on-monday/