Support shown for China at human rights session

China has applauded a joint statement made on Tuesday in Geneva by 65 countries attending the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The statement, which supports China's stance on several issues, was made after Canada, on behalf of some Western countries, attacked China on issues related to the country's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Tibet autonomous region.

The joint speech, delivered by Belarus's representative at the meeting on behalf of 65 countries, said that respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states are basic norms governing international relations.

While pointing out that some Western countries' accusations of human rights violations by China in those regions are not backed by facts, the speech said that the affairs of Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are China's internal affairs and the outside world should not interfere. Instead, all should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and respect the rights of people of all countries to independently choose the path of human rights development based on their national conditions.

The 65 countries voiced opposition to politicizing and double standards on human rights issues, rejected politically motivated and groundless accusations against China based on discrimination, and opposed interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

Six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council have sent a letter supporting China's position, and more than 20 countries are ready to support China by making statements in a national capacity, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Justice always prevails and people can tell right from wrong," a ministry spokesperson said in remarks released on Tuesday.

The spokesperson said that more than 90 countries voiced their appeal for justice at the Human Rights Council, reflecting the support of the international community, and exposing the hypocrisy of a few Western countries and their interference in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

"Their attempt to smear China on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet failed again," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet are not human rights issues at all, and China has made clear its solemn position on many occasions and given detailed statements of the facts and truth.

"But that still cannot wake up those who are only pretending to be asleep," the spokesperson said, adding that a handful of Western countries are eager to fabricate and hype up China-related rumors and interfere in China's internal affairs in the name of human rights, with the purpose of suppressing and containing China and hindering China's development process.

"This is bound to be in vain. I would like to tell these Western countries that China is unswervingly determined to promote and protect its own human rights and safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests," the spokesperson said.

"These self-styled 'human rights judges' are always eager to lecture others, but choose to turn a blind eye to or downplay their own serious human rights issues."

The spokesperson pointed out that the track records of Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom are beyond appalling, as evidenced by the persecution of indigenous children, widespread police violence, deep-seated racism, proliferation of firearms, frequent occurrence of anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, anti-African and anti-Asian remarks and incidents and military interventions that have led to serious humanitarian disaster and unilateral coercive measures that violate basic human rights in other countries.

"With such a woeful record, what right do they have to judge the human rights situation in other countries? What makes them feel that they are in a position to interfere in others' internal affairs?" the spokesperson asked.

The spokesperson urged those countries to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror, deeply repent their wrongdoing, take concrete steps to address their own serious human rights problems, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations.