Foreign and Military Affairs

China opposes Switzerland taking Guantanamo detainees

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-25 20:25

BEIJING - China on Thursday expressed its opposition to Switzerland taking two Chinese Uygurs released from Guantanamo Bay.

"China resolutely opposes the US transfer of the above terrorist suspects to a third country, and opposes any third country taking them," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular news briefing.

Qin's remarks came amid reports that the two Chinese Uygurs freed from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay had arrived in Switzerland.

"We have lodged solemn representations to the country related," said Qin in response to a question.

China has maintained that the Uygur detainees were suspected members of the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement" listed as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council, and should be dealt with by China.

Seven detainees, from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, were held during the Afghanistan war launched after the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

China said in February that Switzerland's decision to take the two detainees would undermine its relations with China.