China and the West on Tuesday clashed at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Committee over claims that Beijing systematically oppresses ethnic minority Muslims in Xinjiang.
Belarus read a statement on behalf of 54 countries commending “China’s remarkable achievements in the field of human rights” and taking note “that terrorism, separatism and religious extremism has caused enormous damage to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, which has seriously infringed upon human rights, including right to life, health and development.”
Britain read a statement on behalf of 23 countries that shared concerns with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination about “credible reports” of mass detention, “efforts to restrict cultural and religious practices, mass surveillance disproportionately targeting ethnic Uighurs, and other human rights violations and abuses in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.”
The clash continued afterward at separate press briefings by the opposing sides.
The Belarus statement — the supporters of which include Egypt, Pakistan and Russia — backed China’s “counterterrorism and deradicalization measures in Xinjiang, including setting up vocational education and training centers.”
It said that there has not been a single “terrorist attack” in Xinjiang in the past three years “and people there enjoy a stronger sense of happiness, fulfillment and security.”
The Western statement — the supporters of which include the US, France and Germany — called on the Chinese government to respect human rights, including freedom of religion in Xinjiang and throughout China, and to urgently implement the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s recommendations “including by refraining from the arbitrary detention of Uighurs and members of other Muslim communities.”
“No country is perfect on human rights. It’s natural that we have different understanding, we have differences,” Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun (張軍) told a group of reporters shortly after the meeting.
However, differences should be discussed and hopefully narrowed through dialogue, Zhang said.
“What’s certain is that a confrontational approach leads to nowhere,” he said. “Nobody will win through such confrontational practices.”
Zhang said that the Uighur issue could also affect US-China trade talks, where there has been progress.
“It’s hard to imagine that on the one hand you are trying to seek to have a trade deal and on the other hand you are making use of any issues, especially human rights issues, to blame the other,” he said.
“I do not think it’s helpful for having a good solution to the issue of the trade talks,” Zhang added.
Asked about the possible effect on trade talks, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said: “Well I would be standing here regardless if it was China, wherever it is. Wherever there are human rights abuses, we would be here in defense of those that are suffering.”
FRAUD ALLEGED: The leader of an opposition alliance made allegations of electoral irregularities and called for a protest in Tirana as European leaders are to meet Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party scored a large victory in parliamentary elections, securing him his fourth term, official results showed late on Tuesday. The Socialist Party won 52.1 percent of the vote on Sunday compared with 34.2 percent for an alliance of opposition parties led by his main rival Sali Berisha, according to results released by the Albanian Central Election Commission. Diaspora votes have yet to be counted, but according to initial results, Rama was also leading there. According to projections, the Socialist Party could have more lawmakers than in 2021 elections. At the time, it won 74 seats in the
A Croatian town has come up with a novel solution to solve the issue of working parents when there are no public childcare spaces available: pay grandparents to do it. Samobor, near the capital, Zagreb, has become the first in the country to run a “Grandmother-Grandfather Service,” which pays 360 euros (US$400) a month per child. The scheme allows grandparents to top up their pension, but the authorities also hope it will boost family ties and tackle social isolation as the population ages. “The benefits are multiple,” Samobor Mayor Petra Skrobot told reporters. “Pensions are rather low and for parents it is sometimes
CONTROVERSY: During the performance of Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael’s song ‘New Day Will Rise,’ loud whistles were heard and two people tried to get on stage Austria’s JJ yesterday won the Eurovision Song Contest, with his operatic song Wasted Love triumphing at the world’s biggest live music television event. After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst’s 2014 triumph. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into yesterday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel — whose participation drew protests — on 357 and Estonia on 356. “Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true,” 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose
CANCER: Jose Mujica earned the moniker ‘world’s poorest president’ for giving away much of his salary and living a simple life on his farm, with his wife and dog Tributes poured in on Tuesday from across Latin America following the death of former Uruguayan president Jose “Pepe” Mujica, an ex-guerrilla fighter revered by the left for his humility and progressive politics. He was 89. Mujica, who spent a dozen years behind bars for revolutionary activity, lost his battle against cancer after announcing in January that the disease had spread and he would stop treatment. “With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our comrade Pepe Mujica. President, activist, guide and leader. We will miss you greatly, old friend,” Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi wrote on X. “Pepe, eternal,” a cyclist shouted out minutes later,
RSS