Human rights: Truth and lies

UN body made correct decision in nixing US-led bid for debate on China’s Muslim minorities 

A United States-led proposal to discuss alleged atrocities against Uygurs and other Muslim minority groups in China was rejected by the United Nations’ highest human rights committee earlier this month. Some have criticized the ruling, but I feel the UN made the correct decision.

To begin, it is imperative to remember that the US proposal was not corroborated by any verifiable proof of abuse. Rather, it was motivated by political ambitions, specifically the objective to undermine China’s reputation and impede its development. It is evident that the US is not interested in engaging in an honest discourse on human rights, as it has been disseminating false information in regard to what is actually occurring in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The evidence is also unambiguous: Xinjiang’s population has risen substantially over the last six decades. The Uygur population alone has increased from 3.6 million to over 11.62 million people. In addition to this, life expectancy has considerably improved, rising from 30 years in 1949 to 74.7 years in 2019. Extreme poverty in Xinjiang has also been virtually eradicated. When the West ignores and disregards these fundamentals, it demonstrates a lack of genuine concern for human rights.

Furthermore, rather than serving as a tool for political sabotage, the UN should prioritize the resolution of actual injustices. There are numerous other nations where Muslim minorities are subjected to actual, egregious violations of their human rights. For instance, the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar has endured a horrific genocide. Muslims in India have experienced widespread discrimination and violence. Rather than entertain false accusations against China, the UN should focus its efforts on preventing actual abuses elsewhere.

Consequently, it is crucial to highlight that China was not the only country that opposed the US proposal. Seventeen other nations, including some prominent US allies with Muslim majorities — such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — voted against it. Despite the fact that Washington maintains a sizable military facility in Qatar and supplies the UAE with weaponry valued at billions of dollars, both nations recognized the US’ political deception. 

For those who still believe the US government’s false narratives against China, this should serve as a wake-up call. Eleven additional nations, including significant US allies like Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Ukraine, opted to abstain. 

Meanwhile, it has long been acknowledged that the US lacks the moral legitimacy to lecture other nations on human rights. Several reports of human rights violations occurring within US borders have surfaced in recent years. 

From police brutality against African Americans to the inhumane treatment of immigrant children in detention facilities, there is ample evidence that the US is far from a model of human rights. If the US is committed to safeguarding human rights, the first priority should be to clean up its own backyard.

In addition to being hypocritical, the US has a long history of interfering in the internal affairs of other nations in the name of human rights. We have repeatedly witnessed US interventions under the pretext of “promoting democracy” or “safeguarding human rights”. However, these interventions have frequently resulted in more harm than good. Consider Iraq and Libya, both of which are still reeling from the disastrous consequences of US involvement, years later.

The bottom line is that when it comes to claims of human rights violations in other countries, we cannot accept Washington’s assertions at face value. Given its past behavior, it is far more plausible that the US is using allegations to justify interference in China’s internal affairs, rather than seeking to assist people who are allegedly being persecuted.

We ought to examine the motivations behind Western nations’ attacks on China. It is not surprising that the US regards China as a significant economic and military rival; containment has been one of the primary goals of American foreign policy since before the Cold War. And human rights issues are extensively employed as a political tool to advance geopolitical objectives. 

It is not about defending human rights, but about furthering American interests at the expense of China.

The fact that China has a legitimate security interest in Xinjiang must also be considered. The province has a long history of ethnic conflict and separatist movements. In response to terrorist acts by Islamic extremists, China has implemented a range of security measures, including enhanced surveillance. Even if some may regard the measures as excessive, they are not unreasonable in light of the threat faced by China.

Finally, China is no exception from any other countries in having a legitimate right to defend itself. In a tweet on Oct 6, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson referred to the UN’s decision as “a triumph for developing countries and a win for truth and justice”. The spokesperson was absolutely correct. The US ought to quit interfering in the internal affairs of other countries on the pretext of defending human rights.

The author is founder of the Facebook group Save HK and a member of the Central Committee of the New People’s Party of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.