So far, the only official statements made by the U.S. on yesterday’s demonstrations in Urumqi are found in today’s State Department press briefing. The U.S. State Department spokesperson, Ian Kelly, discusses the issue with reporters, the transcript of which appears in full below.
QUESTION: Yeah, on China. There was a major riot in the Xinjiang region of China yesterday, I think. And there are press reports that as many as 140 may have been killed. Do you have any comment on the situation there?
MR. KELLY: Yes. We see that official Chinese media are reporting a death toll of 140 as a result of the violent riots in the city of Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. We’re afraid this figure could increase. And, of course, we deeply regret the loss of life. We also understand that there’s been a number of arrests.
We don’t have any confirmation of what actually sparked the unrest. And we can speculate, but I don’t think I want to speculate on what may have caused the violence. And of course, we call on all sides for calm and restraint.
QUESTION: Ian, just to follow on, this is not the first time that people have been rising for their freedom and human rights, and just like anywhere else around the globe, that they want freedom. And now, they’re calling on the U.S. to get involved or interfere, like elsewhere. You think U.S. will take a new position or action there, and China also should free those who are seeking for freedom?
MR. KELLY: Well, as the President and Secretary have said many times, we will always stand with those who are calling for restoration of personal freedoms. I mentioned that Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei is in the building today, and I’m sure that we’ll raise some of these concerns that we have about the violence in Xinjiang the last few days.
QUESTION: But this is – just one more?
QUESTION: Today, it has been raised? You said that Steinberg met with him this morning.
MR. KELLY: Yeah.
QUESTION: And that the Secretary – did it come up?
MR. KELLY: I understand that it did come up.
QUESTION: And that’s based on your –
MR. KELLY: Well, like I say, I don’t have a full readout. But if I can get you one, I will.
QUESTION: Well, do you expect it to – is he still here, or does he have other meetings?
MR. KELLY: I know he’s meeting with Ambassador Bosworth, too. I think he still is here.
QUESTION: Presumably, that would be about North Korea, though?
MR. KELLY: That would be about North Korea, yeah.
QUESTION: But, Ian –
QUESTION: The Xinjiang regional government accuses Rebiya Kadeer, the Uighur leader here in the U.S., of orchestrating the event. Do you have any comment on that?
MR. KELLY: I have no comment. I haven’t seen that report, and I have no comment on it.
QUESTION: But, Ian, this – as far as China’s situation is concerned, it’s just like suppressing those who are seeking freedom that U.S. stands for with those people. But they can’t come out because there’s just so much suppressed – suppression by the Chinese, like in Tibet? So there were also risings in Tibet. So millions are there who want freedom in China.
MR. KELLY: Yeah.
QUESTION: But somebody has to stand with them.
MR. KELLY: Yeah. Well, I think we do stand with them. I think we do speak out when we see human rights – fundamental human rights like freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, freedom of religion. And I think we’ve very forthright about speaking out about it.
We also – I think that our concerns in general are well known, not only in China but in other parts of the world, that we will speak out when we see human rights being violated.
QUESTION: Ian?
MR. KELLY: Yeah. Arshad.
QUESTION: You don’t have evidence of human rights being violated right now by the Chinese authorities?
MR. KELLY: Well, I just – we don’t have all the – what we have are press reports, and we see this terrible loss of life as well.
QUESTION: I mean, exactly; 140 people dead. You don’t think there’s any kind of a problem there?
MR. KELLY: No, I think there is a problem there.
Arshad.
QUESTION: I’m sorry. Charley, yeah, go ahead.
QUESTION: Of course, this prompts questions about the placement of the Uighurs from Guantanamo. Is that issue still in play?
MR. KELLY: Is the issue still – I mean –
QUESTION: Yes. What’s – have those Uighurs been sent to Palau? What’s – do you have any update on – vis-à-vis –
MR. KELLY: I don’t have an update, but I’ll see if I can get you an update.
