The regional authorities do not dispute the increase in sterilizations in the region, but strongly deny that genocide is occurring; Xinjiang authorities have publicly maintained that the decrease in birth rates is due to "the comprehensive implementation of the family planning policy." [1] The Chinese Embassy in the United States has touted this policy regime as positive and empowering for Uyghur women, writing that, "in the process of eradicating extremism, the minds of Uygur women were emancipated and gender equality and reproductive health were promoted, making them no longer baby-making machines.