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China complains about the United Nations’ “double standards” in the Ukraine war
At a news conference on Friday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the UN Human Rights Council after the body adopted a resolution on Russian abuses in Ukraine.
According to Zhao Likan, the organization operates with “double standards” when it comes to war: it tolerates the aggression of some nations while condemning that of others.
The complaint came after the UN Human Rights Council decided on Thursday to investigate alleged human rights abuses by Russian forces in Ukraine. All members except China and Eritrea voted in favor of the resolution.
“Politicized double standards and selective practices are increasing in the Human Rights Council. The reason why China voted against Ukraine is based on China’s principled stance on the Ukraine issue,” Zhao said.
“The Human Rights Council has frequently held special sessions in some countries but has not acted against some other countries,” added the Chinese official, who also raised questions about the UN’s record in other unrelated contexts, including disinformation, racism. armed violence and abuse of migrants.
“This has seriously undermined the confidence of all parties in the impartiality and objectivity of the Human Rights Council, severely damaged its credibility and led to the split in the council,” the spokesman said.
“That is why China voted against the resolution. We call on all parties to return to the original purpose of the Human Rights Council, which was genuine multilateralism and the promotion of sustainable development of the international human rights cause,” he concluded.
new resolution
On Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council passed by a large majority a resolution calling for an investigation into allegations of rights abuses by Russian forces in parts of Ukraine previously under Ukrainian control.
The Genevabased council passed the resolution by a vote, with 33 members voting in favor and 2 against (China and Eritrea). There were 12 abstentions.
Russia was recently suspended from the 47member council. However, she could still have attended the session as an observer, but decided not to do so in protest at the resolution, which she felt amounted to a political reckoning.
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