China has firmly denied recent allegations of “forced labor” in the Xinjiang region’s tomato industry, responding to a report by the BBC suggesting that tomato products from Xinjiang may be linked to labor abuses.
At a daily press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed the claims, stating, “There is no so-called ‘forced labor’ in Xinjiang. The Chinese government has always firmly opposed and cracked down hard on ‘forced labor.'”
The BBC report had alleged that certain types of ketchup sold in UK supermarkets might contain tomato ingredients sourced from Xinjiang, raising concerns about the ethical implications of these products.
Lin emphasized the high level of mechanization in Xinjiang’s agriculture, highlighting that the mechanical harvesting rates for tomatoes and cotton have exceeded 90% and 85%, respectively. “Xinjiang tomatoes, just like the region’s cotton, are world-renowned quality products,” he said. “From planting to harvesting, mechanization has been basically realized. How could there be such a thing as ‘forced labor?'”
He further criticized what he described as attempts to smear China’s reputation, urging international media to report objectively and responsibly.
The Xinjiang region is one of the world’s leading producers of tomatoes and cotton, with its agricultural sector playing a significant role in both the local economy and global supply chains.
Reference(s):
China refutes smears against Xinjiang on so-called "forced labor"
cgtn.com
