Tirana, Albania
China is demanding that Albania return five Chinese nationals who were recently released from Guantánamo Bay. The five are ethnic Uighurs, an oppressed Muslim tribe in northwestern China that has been fighting for minority rights. The U.S. decided two years ago to release all 22 Uighurs held in Gitmo. American officials didn’t want to repatriate them to China, where they would likely face torture as separatists. But no country would welcome them. Finally, last week, Albania—a mostly Muslim, former communist country—offered asylum to five of the men. China called the move mercenary. “All the countries in the world are reluctant to take in these hot potatoes,” China’s Qingnian Cankao said. “Albania is seeking to harvest opportunities from the big American tree.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Long Covid: study shows damage to brain's 'control centre'The Explainer Research could help scientists understand long-term effects of Covid-19 as well as conditions such as MS and dementia
-
Rivals: the Jilly Cooper 'bonkbuster' TV hit that everyone's talking aboutIn the spotlight 1980s novel hits the small screen, bringing wet dogs, big hair and lots of 'rumpy pumpy'
-
Top saunas around the UKThe Week Recommends Finnish-style saunas are popping up everywhere, promising a slew of potential health benefits
