Look, Uncle Sam is busy cleaning up its own mess on human rights problems. Does the US still think it's the beacon of human rights? Illustration: GT

"The US pointed fingers at other countries' human rights issues again right after it rejoined the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. It should change this old problem," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a Friday routine press conference. 

The UN General Assembly on Thursday elected the US as one of 18 new members to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, more than three years after the Trump administration quit the international body over what it called chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform.

Zhao's remarks came as US Ambassador to the UN in New York, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that after the reelection, Washington would initially focus on "what we can accomplish in situations of dire need, such as in Afghanistan, Burma, China, Ethiopia, Syria, and Yemen," Reuters reported. 

"The memory is fresh that, more than three years ago, the US left the Council with a high profile, the memory is still fresh. We hope that the US can use its return this time as an opportunity to practice multilateralism, establish constructive communication with other sides and play a positive role in promoting the council's work," Zhao said.

Zhao warned that the US is certain to encounter strong opposition if it continues to apply double standards, politicize human rights issues and contain other countries.   

Global Times