China seeks support to fight crimes against humanity

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations has called for strengthened international cooperation to prevent and punish crimes against humanity, stressing the importance of respecting international law and historical justice.

Sun Lei, charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the UN, made the remarks on Monday at the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity.

The committee was convened after the UN General Assembly, through resolution 79/122 in 2024, decided to move toward negotiating a new treaty and creating a new global convention on crimes against humanity.

"Crimes against humanity constitute grave offenses that threaten international peace and security,"Sun said, noting that the concept first appeared in the Charter of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and the Charter of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East.

He recalled that during World War II, "Japanese militarism inflicted profound calamities upon the peoples of China, Asia and the world".

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the work of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, commonly known as the Tokyo trials. Sun said the tribunal "systematically adjudicated and exposed the crimes of Japanese militarism in planning, preparing for, and invading China and other Asian nations, as well as in launching the Pacific War".

"The Tokyo trials stand as irrefutable historical evidence of Japan's crimes of aggression," he said, adding that they "pioneered the development of international criminal law and sounded a clarion call for peace".

The international community should jointly safeguard the outcomes of victory in World War II, including the Tokyo trials; uphold the international order based on international law; and prevent a return to militarism, he said.

Rising tensions

His remarks came amid growing tensions between China and Japan after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that the Chinese mainland's "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait.

China has voiced strong opposition to the comments, including through two letters sent by Ambassador Fu Cong to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Against the backdrop of current international developments marked by intertwined changes, turmoil and regional conflicts, Sun said strengthening the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity is "both timely and of great significance".

China has consistently supported the lawful punishment of crimes against humanity and has participated constructively in discussions within the UN Sixth Committee, submitting written government comments at the end of 2023, the envoy said.

Combating crimes against humanity must comply with the UN Charter and universally recognized principles of international law, he added.

"In recent years, crimes against humanity have been subjected to repeated political manipulation," he said. "Under the guise of combating crimes and protecting human rights, certain states have interfered in other countries' internal affairs and engaged in armed aggression."

Contact the writers at minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com