On October 21st , the United States, France and a few other countries launched unfounded accusations against China at the Third Committee of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Ambassador Zhang Jun resolutely refuted those accusations and expressed China’s firm opposition and strong rejection. He later held a press conference on China’s position on human rights issues. More than 80 countries echoed China's position, including Cuba on behalf of 62 countries, Kuwait on behalf of three Gulf states, and many other countries who spoke individually, forming a strong momentum in support of China. The United States and a few other countries' attempts to smear the human rights situation in China were again defeated.

Cuba delivered a joint statement on behalf of 62 countries in support of China, stressing that respecting sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states and non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states represent basic norms governing international relations. The statement stressed that Hong Kong-, Xinjiang- and Tibet-related issues are China’s internal affairs that brook no interference by any external forces, and supported China’s implementation of “one country, two systems” in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The joint statement also called upon all parties to respect the right of the people of each state to choose independently the path for human rights development in accordance with their national conditions, and treat all human rights with the same emphasis. It opposed politicization of human rights, double standards and unfounded allegations against China out of political motivation and based on disinformation.

Kuwait made a joint statement in support of China on behalf of three Gulf states, stressing the objective, constructive and non-political principle on human rights issues, and calling upon all states to follow the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to respect national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.

During the meeting, more than 20 countries made statements in support of China, spoke highly of China's achievements in the development of human rights, and calling upon all countries to uphold multilateralism and solidarity, and to promote and protect human rights through dialogue and cooperation.

At the meeting and the press conference, Ambassdor Zhang Jun said that the US and a few countries have  once again abusing the Third Committee platform to launch groundless accusations against China, spread political viruses and disinformation, and poison the atmosphere of cooperation, which China resolutely opposes and strongly rejects.

Ambassador Zhang pointed out that China has actively participated in the discussion on all agenda items of the Third Committee, presented China’s propositions, offered China’s solutions and made China’s contribution. At the general debate, China made a joint statement on Unilateral Coercive Measures on behalf of 31 countries, and a joint statement on Global Solidarity for Vaccine Equity on behalf of 76 countries. China and the African Group also initiated a joint statement on Combating Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which was supported by 78 countries. It is the shared aspiration of China and the wider developing world that in promoting and protecting human rights, dialogue and cooperation is the right way forward.

Ambassador Zhang emphasized that the accusations by the US and a few other countries are totally unfounded. China has introduced many times the real situation in Xinjiang. Right before the start of the Third Committee, the Chinese Mission and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region together hosted a virtual event titled “Xinjiang is a Wonderful Land”, and invited representatives of ordinary people from Xinjiang and foreign friend living there to tell their real stories. Xinjiang’s door is always open. More than 1,600 diplomats, journalists and religious figures from over 100 countries have visited the region. What they saw, heard and told have shattered the lies by those western countries. The Chinese people’s life is getting better day by day. The Chinese people are satisfied with and proud of such achievements, and those achievements are widely recognized and praised by people around the world. The happy lives and smiles of the Chinese people are the best manifestation of China’s human rights situation. Those western countries may fool themselves, but they cannot fool the world.

Ambassador Zhang said that the attempt by the US and a few other countries to obstruct China's development is doomed to fail. China's development path is chosen by the Chinese people. Those countries are in no position to make choice for the Chinese people, let alone lecture China. China's progress is unstoppable. No one can deprive the Chinese people of their rights to live a happy life. The days when western countries could bully and oppress developing countries are long gone.

Ambassador Zhang pointed out that the US and a few other countries are desperately trying to cover up their own terrible human rights record. But the world sees it clearly. The US conducted genocide against American Indians. The US suppressed its own people to the point they have to yell “I can’t breathe”. The US ignored the deaths of over 700,000 nationals due to the pandemic. And the US stained its hands with the blood of hundreds of thousands of Muslim civilians in the Middle East and Central Asia. The list of human rights violation by those countries goes on. Human rights are their cover-ups. Blaming other countries will not wipe off their own misdeeds, but only reveal their evil and hypocrisy.

Ambassador Zhang emphasized that the US and a few other countries, in the name of democracy, have been trying to get rid of those who dare to hold different views. But all their attempts will end in vain. Democracy is not a few countries’ privilege, but a right enjoyed by people of all countries. The best democracy is to let people be the real master of the country, instead of making them the cannon fodder in political manipulation. The world is diverse. So are the approaches to realize democracy. Whether a country is democratic or not should be judged by its own people, not some individuals outside the country, let alone some individual western countries. Tragedies in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have proven time and again that military intervention from the outside and the so-called democratic transformation entail nothing but harm to those countries affected, and to the ideal of democracy itself. 

Ambassador Zhang said that the attempts by the US and a few other countries to politicize and manipulate human rights issues will find no support. People around the world are clear-eyed about the truth. More than 80 countries have made statements to support China. They opposed interference in other countries’ internal affairs in the name of human rights, and called for following the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. History and reality have proven time and again that the finger-pointing, pressuring and bullying by countries like the US have lost them all the support from people around the world. They are on the opposite side of the international community.

Ambassador Zhang said that respecting and protecting human rights is a basic spirit of the modern civilization. It has been written into China’s Constitution, and become general practices in the Chinese society. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups have made tireless efforts and realized the first centenary goal. We have built China into a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We have brought a historic solution to absolute poverty in China, and achieved the SDG on poverty alleviation 10 years in advance. The Chinese people enjoy more human rights and freedoms than ever before.

Ambassador Zhang pointed out that China sticks to its human rights path with distinctive Chinese features that suits its national conditions, and delivered better lives to the Chinese people. What China has achieved shows that this is a correct path with a bright future. China will firmly follow this path. China welcomes all conducive and good faith suggestions. But China will never accept any political pressure based on lies or any condescending lecturing. China’s resolve to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests remains unshakable; and its resolve to safeguard the fundamental interests and dignity of the wider developing world remains unshakable. China will continue to conduct human rights exchanges and cooperation with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual trust. We will continue to provide China’s wisdom and China’s solutions, and advocate peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, freedom and other values shared by all humanity. China will strive for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and make even greater contribution to the international human rights cause.

The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly is the committee that discusses human rights and social development issues. Since 2019, the United States has gathered a group of countries for three times to smear China on human rights issues, which were firmly opposed by the vast majority of countries and all ended in failure.