Video produced by Di Jingyuan and Lu Dong

‍‍‍‌‍‍‌The US efforts to fabricate allegations of so-called "forced labor" in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region violates international trade rules, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.

The remarks came after the chair of US House Select Committee urged Volkswagen to halt operations in Xinjiang, citing "forced labor" concerns in the region.

A staff member works in a textile factory at the integrated industrial park in Moyu County of Hotan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 11, 2022. (File photo: Xinhua)

But in December, external auditors hired by the German carmaker said they found no evidence of forced labor at the company's plant in Xinjiang.

Read more: No evidence of forced labor at Volkswagen's Xinjiang plant, say auditors

"We've stated on multiple occasions that the so-called 'forced labor' in Xinjiang is nothing but a lie propagated by anti-China forces who aim to smear China," Mao said.

"The US uses this so-called 'forced labor' in Xinjiang as an excuse to hinder normal economic and trade cooperation. That is a violation of international trade rules and a disruption of the normal order of the market," the spokesperson noted.

"The US will end up hurting its own interests."