Ambassador Chen Xu (front center), permanent representative of China to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland Photo: Permanent Mission of China to the UN Office in Geneva

Over 100 countries expressed their support in various ways, both jointly and individually, for China's position on issues related to China's Xinjiang, Xizang and Hong Kong regions and opposed the politicization of issues on human rights following statements made by the US and a handful of countries which smear China's human rights situation during the ongoing 57th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. 

The representative from Cuba made a joint statement on behalf of nearly 80 countries during the council, emphasizing sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in addition to non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign countries, are the basic norms of international relations, according to a release from the Permanent Mission of China to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland on Wednesday.

The joint statement noted that issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are internal affairs of China. They oppose the politicization of human rights issues and the application of double standards, as well as using human rights as an excuse to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. 

All parties should adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, follow principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, and respect the right of the people of each state to choose independently the path in accordance with their national conditions.

Ambassador Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said the current atmosphere of politicization and polarization in the Human Rights Council is intensifying. 

The Human Rights Council should not be a venue for confrontation and pressure, but it should play its role in helping countries build trust and promote cooperation through dialogue and communication, Chen said.

Other representatives also emphasized that all parties should view the human rights conditions in other countries objectively and engage in dialogue and cooperation on human rights issues based on equality and mutual respect. They called for avoiding selective and double standards and jointly resisting the erroneous practices of politicizing, instrumentalizing, and weaponizing human rights issues.

The Chinese delegation also described the real situation of human rights protection in China, exposing the serious human rights violations existing in countries like the US, and urging these countries to effectively protect human rights and contribute more to the international human rights cause.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Wednesday that the support expressed by more than 100 countries at the UN for China once again demonstrates that the politicization of human rights issues by the US and a few other countries is unpopular and destined to fail within the international community.

China urged the US to seriously reflect on and address its own gravely human rights issues, including racism, gun violence, social injustice, and violations of immigrants' rights. Lin further called on the US to safeguard the rights of its citizens, stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs, and engage constructively in international human rights cooperation.

Global Times