Remarks by Minister JIANG Duan as the Human Rights Council Takes Action on the Draft Resolution on the Ukraine Issue
2022-05-12 23:17

(12 May 2022)

Mr. President,

China has followed closely the situation in Ukraine. What is going on in Ukraine is not what we would like to see. The top priority at this moment is to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, and make every effort to prevent the conflict from intensifying or magnifying to a point of no return. China always stands on the side of peace, and has been working in its own way to facilitate peace and dialogue. The international community should support peace talks between Russia and Ukraine with a view to bringing about peaceful outcomes. The parties concerned should refrain from laying down obstacles to peace talks, and stop adding fuel to the fire.

The humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict remains acute, and the rising civilian casualties are heart-wrenching. China calls upon parties to the conflict to maintain maximum restraints, avoid civilian casualties, prioritize the access to humanitarian aid for vulnerable groups including women and children, and prevent further humanitarian crisis. China supports all initiatives and measures that help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and welcomes the unremitting efforts by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and provided Ukraine with several batches of emergency humanitarian aid. China stands ready to enhance coordination with the international community so as to work together to prevent a larger-scale humanitarian crisis.

The founding mission of the Human Rights Council is to promote and protect human rights through dialogue and cooperation. Guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, the HRC shall facilitate constructive dialogue and cooperation. HRC actions on the Ukraine issue shall be conducive to dialogue and negotiations, to the de-escalation of tensions, and to the eradication of root causes that gave rise to conflicts.

Regrettably, the draft resolution circulated by the pen-holding countries is neither balanced nor objective. It fails to cover such contents as supporting dialogue and negotiations, calling for political settlement, accommodating the security concerns of all parties, and calling to stop arms transfer. Instead of contributing to resolving the Ukraine issue in a peaceful manner by diplomatic means, it will only further escalate tensions and exacerbate confrontation. Therefore, China will call for an vote on the draft resolution, and will vote No.

Thank you, Mr. President.