Geneva, (TDI): In a show of broad international support, over 100 countries have expressed their backing for China’s stance on human rights issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong during the ongoing 57th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.
The countries, in both joint and individual statements, rejected efforts to politicize human rights following criticism of China by the US and a handful of other nations.
Cuba, representing nearly 80 countries, delivered a joint statement emphasizing key principles such as sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.
According to a release from China’s Permanent Mission to the UN Office in Geneva, the statement firmly declared that issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong are internal matters for China.
It also condemned the application of double standards and the misuse of human rights as a pretext for foreign interference.
The statement further urged all nations to adhere to the principles of the UN Charter, respecting the universality, impartiality, and objectivity of human rights, while allowing countries the right to choose their own development path based on national conditions, Chinese media reported.
Envoy Warns of Increasing Polarization
Ambassador Chen Xu, China’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, warned of the increasing politicization and polarization within the Human Rights Council.
He stressed that the Council should not be a platform for confrontation or coercion, but rather a forum for fostering trust and promoting dialogue and cooperation between nations.
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Other representatives echoed this sentiment, calling for an objective assessment of human rights in all countries, and urging dialogue based on equality and mutual respect.
They criticised the selective application of human rights standards, and called for a collective stand against the politicization and weaponization of these issues.
China’s delegation also highlighted its own efforts in human rights protection, while pointing to serious rights violations in countries like the US.
The Chinese delegation urged these nations to address their own domestic human rights issues, including racism, gun violence, social inequality, and the treatment of immigrants.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, responding to the widespread support, stated that the backing of over 100 countries demonstrated that efforts by the US and its allies to politicize human rights are increasingly isolated and destined to fail.
Lin called on the US to reflect on its own human rights record and cease interfering in the internal affairs of other nations, while urging constructive engagement in international human rights cooperation.
