China tells world to ignore "gossip" about Xinjiang

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attend a joint news conference at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, November 13, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee

BEIJING (Reuters) - The world should ignore "gossip" about China's Xinjiang region and trust authorities there, the government's top diplomat said on Tuesday, when asked if Beijing would allow international observers to inspect camps holding Muslims there.

Western countries including Canada, France, Germany, and the United States have urged China to shut down camps in Xinjiang, where activists say as many as 1 million members of the Uighur minority and other Muslims are being detained.