China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. Photo: VCG

The so-called "forced labor" in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a lie concocted by some anti-China activists from very few countries including the US, to destabilize Xinjiang and contain China, said the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, responding to report that France probes Uniqlo French unit of Japan's Fast Retailing on suspicion of forced labor in Xinjiang.

"We firmly oppose any external forces interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues. We also hope that relevant parties will not be deceived by the lies about the so-called forced labor," said Wang Wenbin, spokesman of the foreign ministry, on Friday during a press briefing.

The irony is that forced labor is truly widespread in the US itself. International labor unions have identified the US as one of the worst major developed nations for systemic violations of labor rights, Wang noted.

The victims of forced labor in the US include both American citizens and foreign nationals from nearly every region of the world, including vulnerable groups such as women, children and people with disabilities. As many as 100,000 people are trafficked into forced labor across the US each year, half of them trafficked into sweatshops or domestic servitude.

Wang said that what the US needs to do most is to reflect on its own serious human rights issues. The US attacks and smears against other countries under the guise of forced labor.

"No matter what kind of packaging or excuse the US uses, it will not be able to cover up lies. The essence of lies and rumors is doomed to fail. I also want to tell you that the desperate efforts to stigmatize and suppress Xinjiang cotton have made it known to more consumers and become an important name card of Xinjiang agricultural products," Wang added.