On December 16, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and a few other mandate holders, in disregard of facts, made erroneous remarks on China, which grossly interfered in China’s judicial sovereignty and internal affairs. China firmly opposes and categorically rejects the remarks.

China is a country under the rule of law. The judicial organs of China handle cases in strict accordance with the law and fully protect the legitimate rights of criminal suspects. Chang Weiping, mentioned by some Special Procedure mandate holders, was subject to criminal coercive measures by the public security organ in Shanxi Province on October 22, 2020 on suspicion of criminal offenses. During this period, Chang’s legitimate rights were fully protected. By using misinformation, relevant mandate holders blatantly smear China, bolster criminal offenders and attempt to intervene in the handling of case by China’s judicial organs. This seriously violates the spirit of the rule of law and fully exposes their bias against China. What they did has deviated from their mandates and gone against the Code of Conduct of the Special Procedures.

The relevant Special Procedure mandate holders are urged to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect facts, act impartially and objectively within their own mandates, and stop exerting public pressure and interfering in the judicial sovereignty and internal affairs of States.