The Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur said the Xinjiang government’s ‘re-education camps’ are part of measures to counter terrorism and extremism in the region.

In a statement yesterday, the embassy argued such efforts contribute to the global efforts to fight terrorism.

"Like many of other countries and Malaysia, China has been the victim of terrorism and firmly opposes terrorism.

"China’s efforts against terrorism combine ‘combating’ with ‘prevention’, and places prevention as the priority.

"It is only when the prevention is well done that the breeding ground of terrorism could be eliminated."

In August, a United Nations panel of human rights experts said it had received credible reports that one million ethnic Uighurs in China were being held in what resembled a "massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy".

They called for the immediate release of those detained.

China has repeatedly said Xinjiang faces a threat from Islamist militants and separatists.

According to Reuters, China rejected all accusations of mistreatment and denies mass internment, although Chinese officials have said some citizens guilty of minor offences were being sent to vocational centres to work.

China worries that Uighurs, who speak a Turkic language, have gone to places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq to fight for militants.

Yesterday, hundreds of Muslims held a rally outside the Chinese embassy in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, after Friday prayers to protest against the treatment of the mostly Muslim ethnic Uighur minority in China's far western Xinjiang region.

Opposition groups in Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, have criticised President Joko Widodo for not providing enough support for China's Uighur community.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Chinese envoy in Jakarta to "convey concern from various parties in Indonesia on the condition of people of Uighur in China" and called on China to respect freedom of religion.