China has strongly condemned a UK-based body currently investigating allegations of "genocide and crimes against humanity" against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. Officials held a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday, dismissing the legitimacy of the tribunal and calling it "illegal." Feng Yilei reports.

Officials from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region say the Uygur Tribunal is not a proper judicial body and has no legal basis.

The panel is currently investigating alleged abuses against Uygurs in Xinjiang. It's set to hold its "first hearing" in early June.

ELIJAN ANAYAT Spokesperson, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Government "Under the Genocide Convention, genocide cases are tried either by competent courts of the country where it took place or by an international criminal tribunal whose jurisdiction the country has accepted. Some national courts have also tried cases of genocide within their own borders. Apart from that, no state, organization or individual has the right to arbitrarily find another state guilty of genocide."

Chinese officials point to the tribunal being funded by the World Uygur Congress, which Beijing classifies as an anti-China separatist organization with links to terrorism.

The officials say the witnesses involved in the tribunal are actors and liars.

YALKUN YAKUP Deputy Director, Public Security Department Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Government "Sayragul Sauytbay first lied about teaching at a vocational education and training center. With the help of anti-China forces, she then became a so-called 'victim of the education and training center,' by claiming she was detained in a 'concentration camp' and subjected to torture, medical experiments, and forced to eat pork. Actually, she has never studied or worked there. Dolkun Isa, leader of the World Uyghur Congress, has been spreading rumors about Xinjiang in the international community for a long time and his tricks have repeatedly been exposed. Recently, he became a so-called "concentration camp victim." But he's not a victim, he's a terrorist as designated by the Chinese government."

The Chinese officials accuse the tribunal of "cheap tricks" that smear Xinjiang and interfere in China's internal affairs.

XU GUIXIANG Spokesperson, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Government "Its purpose is to describe vocational education and training centers as 'concentration camps,' linking education and training in Xinjiang with 'genocide,' and finally accusing Xinjiang of 'genocide." But these are all lies."

FENG YILEI Beijing "China imposed sanctions on the Uygur tribunal in March, with Beijing saying it is one of four UK entities that 'maliciously spread lies and disinformation.'"

The Tribunal said the sanctions imposed by China will not affect their work. Beijing has also warned it will respond with further actions if necessary.

source: CGTN