China welcomes ‘moderate’ US response to riots

WASHINGTON — A Chinese diplomat voiced appreciation Tuesday for what he called the “moderate attitude” of the U.S. toward the ethnic clashes in China’s oil-rich Xinjiang region that killed nearly 200 people.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya said U.S. officials also indicated that the U.S. informed China “unequivocally” that the violence involving Muslim minority Uighur (WEE’-gur) residents constituted a domestic affair of China.

Moments before Wang made his remarks at a news conference, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States voiced “concern” over the riots during two days of high-level talks between U.S. officials and Chinese envoys.

“We discussed a number of human rights issues, including the situation in Xinjiang, and we expressed our concerns. It was certainly a matter of great interest and focus,” Clinton said. She did not elaborate.

The regional capital of Urumqi has been tense since rioting erupted on July 5 after police stopped a protest by Uighur residents. Uighur demonstrators smashed windows, burned cars and beat Han Chinese — the nation’s dominant ethnic group. Two days later, the Han took to the streets and attacked Uighurs.

Shortly after the clashes began, Clinton said the United States was “calling on all sides to exercise restraint.”

China has defended its policies on ethnic minorities and has blamed the Xinjiang violence on separatists.

“I believe the nature of the incident that took place in Xinjiang is very clear,” Wang said Tuesday. “It is a highly violent terrorist act involving beatings, smashings and arson.”

He said China also asked the United States to prevent separatist activities against China on U.S. soil.