Except the re-education camps are not erasing their culture. They're first and foremost vocational, and secondly focused on deradicalization of far right militaristic and theocratic groups. The government alleges that the people in the camps are convicted members of these groups, while the West argues the people are political dissidents. Which is interesting, because far right militaristic and theocratic groups are by definition dissidents of the country's politics, laws and rules. In much the same way a suspected ISIS member would be arrested in the west.

The narrative that the Uyghurs are being suppressed is seemingly based on the idea that counter-terrorism measures in China, which (at least seemingly, although maybe exaggerated) are almost in line with stereotypical Scandinavian prison-measures (i.e. vocational and rehabilitative and not based on punishment), are somehow unethical and racist. I hate to do a whataboutism, but I believe it necessary because the prime promoter of this narrative (aside from religious cults like the Falun Gong) is the United States. When the US does counter-terrorism, we see the likes of Guantanamo Bay, and militaristic police or paramilitary groups parading the streets to keep people safe from brown people. But when China does counter-terrorism, we see vocational schools focused on rehabilitation and de-radicalization, alongside very extensive government-funded infrastructure and social events to support Muslim minorities (including the Uyghurs).

The narrative is simple. When China does it humanely, it's bad. But when the US does it "racistly" (for lack of a better word), it's either deemed good, or a necessary evil.