Statement of H.E.Ambassador CHEN Xu at the 51st Session of the Human Rights Council Opposing Xinjiang-related Draft Decision(A/HRC/51/L.6) Tabled by the U.S. and Some Other Countries
2022-10-06 18:34

Mr. President, dear colleagues,

China firmly opposes and categorically rejects the draft decision A/HRC/51/L.6 tabled by the United States, the United Kingdom and some other countries.

First, the draft decision is not a procedural issue, but substantive in nature. The so-called “assessment” on Xinjiang, China, is neither mandated by the Human Rights Council nor consented by the Chinese government. It is illegal and invalid. The U.S. and some other countries tabled the draft decision and package it as a procedural issue, attempting to justify the unauthorized and illegal “assessment”, and to put Xinjiang-related issues that do not exist at all on the agenda of the Council. No matter how the draft decision is disguised, its real intention is to take advantage of UN human rights bodies to interfere in China’s internal affairs, so as to serve their political purpose of using Xinjiang-related issues to contain China, which is another example of politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues.

Second, the draft decision is not pro-human rights, but for political manipulation. The Xinjiang-related issues are by no means human rights issues. They are about counter-terrorism, deradicalization and anti-separatism. After arduous efforts, Xinjiang has seen no violent and terrorist incident for five consecutive years. The human rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are protected to the fullest extent. Over the last six decades, the Uyghur population in Xinjiang expanded from 2.2 million to around 12 million, and average life expectancy increased from 30 to 74.7 years. Turning a blind eye to these facts and truth, the U.S. and some other countries have fabricated and spread numerous lies and rumors, in an attempt to smear China, undermine Xinjiang’s stability and contain China’s development. It is a typical example of political manipulation and the gravest violation of the human rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Third, the draft decision will not promote dialogue, but only lead to new confrontations. While most members of the Human Rights Council are opposed to the manipulation of Xinjiang-related issues and the politicization of human rights issues, the U.S. and some other Western countries have been pushing for this draft decision by force. Their purpose is not dialogue and cooperation at all, but to provoke confrontation and divergence, and create a “dangerous shortcut” for introducing country-specific issues to the Human Rights Council. China is targeted this time, and any other developing countries could be targeted anytime in the future. To allow the adoption of such a draft decision is tantamount to supporting Western countries’ interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues. It will further antagonize the Human Rights Council and bring fundamental damage to the international human rights cause.

Mr. President, dear colleagues,

So far, all country-specific resolutions of the Human Rights Council are aimed at developing countries. The U.S. and some other countries, in disregard of their own serious human rights violations, are indulged in pointing fingers at others. This is typical double-standards. The international community must not allow any attempt to politicize or instrumentalize human rights issues, with a view to prevent multilateral human rights bodies from serving the political goals of certain countries.

In this regard, China calls for a vote on draft decision L.6 and will vote against it. We call on all members of the Council to stand alongside international equity and justice and join us in voting against it.

Thank you, Mr. President.