UN envoy hits back at Western smears

Nearly 70 countries back Chinese effort to protect national sovereignty, he says

The Chinese ambassador to the United Nations said Tuesday that the attempt by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and several other countries to smear China's human rights record at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly's Third Committee is doomed to fail.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, resolutely rebutted the "groundless accusations" the countries made against China and their "wrongful acts of interfering in China's internal affairs on the excuse of human rights, and provoking confrontation among member states."

The envoy recalled that global leaders called for solidarity and cooperation in fighting COVID-19 and addressing global challenges at the just-concluded commemoration of the UN's 75th anniversary.

The act of interfering in China's internal affairs, on a human rights premise, is unpopular, Zhang said. China has the support of nearly 70 countries that endorse its position and have supported its efforts in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and unity, he said.

At the Third Committee gathering on Tuesday, Pakistan made a joint statement on behalf of 55 countries that opposed interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of acting on behalf of Hong Kong. Cuba, speaking on behalf of 45 countries, supported China's counterterrorism and deradicalization measures in Xinjiang.

Kuwait made a joint statement on behalf of three Gulf states, opposing politicization of human rights issues and interference in others' internal affairs out of supposed human rights concerns.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement on Wednesday that those just voices show again that fair-minded people can tell right from wrong.

China opposes any individuals, countries or forces that would create chaos or separation in its territory, and it opposes any attempts to use Hong Kong－and Xinjiang-related issues for political gain and to interfere in China's domestic affairs, Hua said.

Shortly after speeches from representatives of Pakistan, Cuba and Kuwait, an envoy from South Africa expressed support for the one-China policy.

"South Africa wishes to reaffirm our strong commitment to the one-China policy, and we hope that all conversations and discussions regarding Hong Kong and Xinjiang will respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China," said Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, South Africa's deputy permanent representative to the UN.

The Singaporean ambassador to the UN, Burhan Gafoor, argued that countries should refrain from imposing their views on others. He called on nations to strengthen cooperation as the world battles COVID-19.

"Our view is that no country, or grouping of countries, has the right to impose its views on human rights on other countries or societies," he said.

"In particular, the Third Committee cannot be used as a platform or a pretext to table resolutions that impose the views of one group of countries on other countries, especially if there is no international consensus against such policy," Gafoor said.

"We also disagree with the practices of some member states, increasingly issuing joint statements to target the policies of other countries and to interfere in their internal affairs. Such an approach, in our view, is divisive and counterproductive, because it does not build trust and does not help to resolve the underlying issues," he added.

Zhang said that China's achievements in human rights development are widely recognized, which will not be "denied by their lies or deception".

He said "the political scheme" of the US, Germany and others will never succeed and that developing countries have the right to defend their sovereignty, achieve development and maintain security.

"It is time that they wake up to the failure of their successive attempts. Blaming others won't solve their problems nor hide their failures. The US would do better to take a good look in the mirror at itself," he said.

Zhang said that the US should be held accountable for its "massive casualties and refugees in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan".

He also noted that the US has withdrawn from the UN's Human Rights Council, refused to ratify human rights treaties, sanctioned an International Criminal Court prosecutor and imposed unilateral sanctions on other countries.

"I must also point out that, facing the poor human rights records of the US and of Germany, the UK and a few other countries that choose to engage in selective blindness and double standards willingly follow the US and become its accomplices, which is sheer hypocrisy. They should immediately put away their arrogance and prejudice and pull back from the brink," Zhang said.

Noting that "human rights are not something exclusive to a few, much less a political tool", the ambassador stressed that the Western model is not the only model for human rights protection and that every country is entitled to make an independent choice based on its own circumstances.

China is ready to continue working with other countries in the spirit of equality, mutual respect, openness and inclusiveness to move toward the lofty ideal of "human rights for all", the ambassador said.

Zhou Jin in Beijing contributed to the story.