Information
China faced significant scrutiny during the recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations, focusing on human rights issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Over 160 countries, each allotted only 45 seconds, participated in the Geneva hearing. China, through its UN Ambassador Chen Xu, denied allegations of human rights abuses.
Outside the UN offices in Geneva, Uyghur and Tibetan groups staged small protests. Canada’s UN representative, Leslie Norton, urged China to halt enforced disappearances, while Denmark’s Ib Petersen called for the implementation of UN recommendations in Xinjiang. Other countries, including Germany, Japan, and Ireland, also called for improved protections in Xinjiang and Tibet.
Diplomats revealed that China pressured its supporters to express praise during the UN session. Russia advised China on language capacity in Xinjiang, South Africa called for stronger domestic violence laws, and India urged human rights measures. While some African nations praised China’s efforts, Iran and Bolivia commended specific initiatives. The diverse range of opinions highlighted the complexity of addressing China’s human rights practices on the global stage.
Source: Reuters, AP, AFP
Assessment
It is highly unlikely that China will ever admit to any human rights abuses and will almost certainly continue to use their political influence to get countries to come to their aid. Regardless, it is becoming clearer to the global community that China is a serious threat to international stability, and they do not intend to back down. It is likely that issues such as the South China Sea and Taiwan will only continue to escalate throughout 2024; with much of the world focused on conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, China may see this as a chance to further its agenda in these locations.
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