Those lying about China should stand trial

Some enterprises and individuals in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will sue German "scholar" Adrian Zenz at a local court, says a report on ts.cn, the official website of the region's information office.

They are suing Zenz for spreading rumors about "forced labor", which has damaged the region's reputation and resulted in economic losses. The enterprises and individuals want Zenz to apologize and make good their losses.

Zenz is a "senior fellow on China studies" and his research areas include the Xinjiang Uygur and Tibet autonomous regions, but his "works" are not trustworthy. He has distorted facts by fabricating reports of "forced labor" and "genocide" in Xinjiang. He is a known anti-communist, the reason why he badmouths China.

Journalists from China and other countries have interviewed people in Xinjiang and exposed Zenz's motive, but his lies about "forced labor", "genocide", and "mass rapes" have harmed Xinjiang's reputation. Besides, some countries and enterprises have reduced cotton imports from Xinjiang, hurting the people and enterprises economically.

On March 1, the Joe Biden administration said it will consider imposing carbon border adjustment taxes to help cut greenhouse gas emissions in global trade and combat China's use of "forced labor" in Xinjiang－ostensibly because of the lies that Zenz has spread about Xinjiang.

The lawsuits are proof that Xinjiang residents know how to defend their legal rights and interests from those fabricating and spreading lies.

Considering that Zenz is a German working in the US, the lawsuit might involve long, complicated procedures. However prolonged the procedure might be, justice should be done and those spreading lies about China must stand trial in court.

Zenz is not the only one spreading lies about Xinjiang or China. And the Chinese people have the right to sue all these professional liars to defend their legal rights and interests, and hope impartial scholars will portray the truth about Xinjiang and China.

—ZHANG ZHOUXIANG, CHINA DAILY