HUMBLE YOURSELF, BEFORE PASSING JUDGMENT
China's achievements in human rights development are widely recognized and not to be denied by lies and deception, Zhang said.
He mentioned China's adoption of effective measures in combating terrorism and promoting economic development, which has been supported by Chinese people and stood the test of time and history.
On the other hand, Zhang criticized the United States for its own human rights record, saying the United States should better take a good look at itself in the mirror before making accusations against others.
Pointing to the over 200,000 American lives lost in the COVID-19 pandemic, he advised the U.S. government need to treat the sick and save lives, not to spread "political virus" and to stir up troubles.
He also called for attention to the existing systematic racial discrimination in the United States, the belligerent nature of the country and the frequent, crude political decisions unilaterally made by the country to evade its human rights obligations.
Germany, the United Kingdom and some other countries, having been practicing selective blindness and double-standards, should put away arrogance and prejudice, and pull back from the brink, said Zhang.
VOICES OF SUPPORT
In Tuesday's debate, Pakistan made a joint statement on behalf of 55 countries, opposing interference with China's internal affairs under the pretext of Hong Kong-related issues.
The principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states should be upheld, the statement said, adding that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of China whose affairs brook no foreign interference.
In any country, the legislative power on national security issues rests with the state, and the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents can be better exercised with the national security law, the statement added.
Cuba made a joint statement on behalf of 45 countries in support of China's counter-terrorism and deradicalization measures in Xinjiang.
The statement underscores the fact that terrorist attacks have not been seen in Xinjiang for the past three years thanks to China's measures in response to the threat of local terrorism and extremism.
Noting that China maintains openness and transparency by, among other things, inviting diplomats, officials, journalists and religious personages to visit Xinjiang, the statement criticized the unfounded allegations against China and interference out of political motivation and bias.
Kuwait made a joint statement on behalf of three Gulf states, opposing the politicization of human rights issues and interference in others' internal affairs with the excuse of human rights.
"Because we are committed to the provisions of the UN Charter, including equality and sovereignty for all member states of the organization, we would also like to stress that the deliberation of matters related to human rights at the United Nations must be objective, constructive, transparent, non-selective and non-politicized. It should also respect the sovereignty of countries and should not interfere in the internal affairs of countries," said the joint statement.
The statement emphasizes the right of all countries to development and to eradication of poverty, ignorance and disease, arguing that these are among the most important human rights.
This is the second bungled attempt of the United States to foment opposition to China under the pretext of human rights. In October 2019, the United States rallied some countries to do the same, which failed due to the oppositon by a vast majority of countries.
The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly is the main committee that deliberates on human rights, and social and humanitarian affairs.
