Members of European Parliament call for respecting China's territorial integrity

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Some members of the European Parliament have called for respecting China's territorial integrity during a debate on Wednesday on the riots in Urumqi, Xinjiang.

Some members of the European Parliament have called for respecting China's territorial integrity during a debate on Wednesday on the riots in Urumqi, Xinjiang.

Nirj Deva of Britain said supporting separatism anywhere in the world is against the spirit of the EU. He said the EU cannot work to unite Europe at home and encourage the break-up of China abroad.

Adrian Severin of Romania said minority rights should not be used as an excuse for separatist policies and extremist means to promote these policies. Certain members of the European Parliament attacked the Chinese government for its handling of the violence or its policies on ethnic minorities in China.

Britain's Struan Stevenson asked them to first get the facts right. He said the incidents involved a premeditated attack by Islamic fundamentalists in Xinjiang who demand a separate state.