Statement by H.E. Ambassador Chen Xu in Exercising the Right of Reply under the Item 4 General Debate at the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council
March 15, 2021
Madam President,
The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and some EU countries, abusing the platform of the Human Rights Council, spread misinformation and made groundless accusations against China at the session. China firmly opposes and categorically rejects their accusations.
Putting people at the center, China has made remarkable achievements in the field of human rights. Today, Xinjiang and Tibet enjoy prosperity and stability. People there are leading a safe and happy life. In 60-plus years, Xinjiang's economy has grown by more than 200 times, and the average life expectancy and Uygur population both doubled. It can't be more absurd to pin the "genocide" label on China, and this attempt will not go anywhere. Hong Kong affairs are entirely China's internal affairs which brook no external interference. Since the National Security Law came into force, Hong Kong has embarked on a transition from chaos to order and peace, and the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents are better exercised in a safer environment. The Decision of the National People's Congress on the improvement of the electoral system of the Hong Kong ensures that the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" will be fully implemented by putting in place institutional mechanisms, and guarantees the long-term stability of Hong Kong as well as the steady and sustained implementation of "One Country, Two Systems".
China welcomes the visit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to China, including Xinjiang. The two sides are in communication on this matter. This will be a friendly visit rather than the so-call "investigation" under the presumption of guilt. We firmly oppose anyone using this matter for political manipulation and exerting pressure on China. We have extended invitation to EU countries to visit Xinjiang on a number of occasions, but they have so far shied away on various excuses, which makes one suspect that they only attempt to manipulate Xinjiang-related issues for political purposes.
While indulged in making groundless accusations against China and other developing countries, these countries choose to turn a blind eye to the serious human rights problems of their own and their allies. As far as "genocide" is concerned, this is exactly the crime that the U.S. committed. One will recall that native American Indians were driven out of their home and killed, and their population nosedived by 95%. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. failed to take effective measures to control the pandemic, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of precious lives. Meanwhile, U.S. politicians are passing the buck and shifting the blame. Innocent civilians, including children, were killed by Australian overseas military personnel. Credible reports show that Australian soldiers have committed serious war crimes.
China urges these countries to immediately halt infringing upon the human rights of its own people and people of other countries, stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, and work truly for the protection of human rights worldwide.
Thank you, Madam President.