Recently, the UK, in collusion with the US and a handful of other countries, made groundless accusations against China during the examination of human rights issues at the Third Committee of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. This has been sternly refuted by China and strongly opposed by the majority of developing countries and friendly countries. The attempt by a small number of countries including the UK and the US to discredit China's human rights situation has once again been thwarted. On 19 October, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang issued a statement, strongly condemning the above-mentioned sinister move by the UK side. The statement is as follows:
The UK side, in disregard of China's strong opposition, went ahead to deliver a so-called joint statement on Xinjiang at the Third Committee, making groundless accusations against China and interfering in China's internal affairs. China strongly condemns and resolutely rejects this, and has made solemn representations to the UK side.
Xinjiang-related issues are purely China's internal affairs and no external force has the right to interfere. Today, Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic prosperity, ethnic unity, religious harmony, and better living standards. These are basic facts that anyone without prejudice can see clearly. The UK side, by hyping up the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang and spreading lies and disinformation at the Third Committee, is trying to disrupt China's Xinjiang region and tarnish China's image. However, the UK’s lies have long been exposed and its attempt is doomed to fail. At the Third Committee, a total of over one hundred countries have voiced strong opposition to the politicisation of human rights issues and interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. This fully shows who has the support of the international community and proves that the UK’s sinister move is utterly unpopular.
The UK's attack against China in the name of human rights cannot cover up its own serious human rights problems. In recent years, the UK has seen recurring incidents of racial discrimination, and large numbers of violations of the rights of ethnic minorities and refugees. Externally, the UK has a notorious record of frequently interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and violating their people’s human rights. Instead of reflecting on itself and redressing its wrongdoings, the UK has abused the mechanism of the Third Committee to attack other countries and distract attention. This trick will only further expose the UK’s own problems and bring disgrace to itself. It is a pipe dream that will get the UK nowhere.
The UK’s attempt to contain China's development under the pretext of human rights will never succeed. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people are marching on the path to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We have strong confidence in the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics we have chosen and are full of hope for China's future. We will unswervingly follow this path and strive for new achievements. China will continue to put people front and centre, better protect human rights and promote people’s free and well-rounded development in the process of advancing Chinese modernisation, and make greater contributions to the sound development of the international human rights cause.
Only by following the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit can China-UK relations develop in a sound and steady manner. China urges the UK to get a clear understanding of the situation, correct its wrongdoings, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and avoid going further down the path of mistake and failure.
