China: Russia’s suspension from the Human Rights Council is “dangerous”.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the draft resolution for Russia’s expulsion from the UN Human Rights Council was not clearly prepared, describing Russia’s suspension from the council as an unconstructive step and a dangerous example.
China’s foreign ministry says suspending Russia’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council is a dangerous process.
The ministry added that China opposes the use of human rights issues as an excuse to put pressure on other countries, and that such a move would not help reduce conflict.
Bloomberg News also reported that China said that the draft resolution for Russia’s expulsion from the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday was not open and transparent.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said such a hasty move, forcing other countries to choose the side, would widen the gap between member states.
The UN General Assembly on Thursday (April 7th) adopted a resolution calling for Russia’s suspension of membership in the UN Human Rights Council. 93 countries agreed with this resolution, 24 countries voted against it and 54 countries abstained. China and Iran were among the countries that opposed the resolution and voted against it.
The United States on Monday demanded the suspension of Russia’s membership in the Human Rights Council after accusing Russian troops of killing hundreds of civilians in the city of Bucha. After Russia’s suspension, US President Joe Biden issued a statement welcoming the UN General Assembly vote. He claimed that the vote was an important step by the international community to show how Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned his country into a “despised country” at the international level.
Russia’s presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday night, in response to his country’s suspension at the UN Human Rights Council on the pretext of the events in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, denied Russia’s involvement in the Bucha events, saying that Russia’s suspension at the UN Human Rights Council was unfortunate. “We will continue to defend our interests by any legal means possible.”