Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese delegation resolutely opposes draft resolution L.30 introduced by the US delegation just now. In accordance with Article 65, Paragraph 2, of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council, I would like to move that this Commission take no action on the draft resolution L.30.

First, the draft resolution in question is nothing but an anti-China political farce directed and played all by the United States alone, and a mockery towards the Human Rights Commission and its Members.

The past one year has witnessed political stability, economic development, national unity, and content life and work for the Chinese people. China is making unprecedented strides into the new historical stage of democracy, prosperity and the rule of law. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the New China and the smooth return of Macao gave great impetus to the patriotism of the Chinese people. The human rights situation in China is now at its peak in its history of 5000 years. This is a conclusion naturally reached by any impartial observer. As the saying goes: "Facts speak louder than words; and justice glistens, however unspoken". The US representative repeatedly asserts that the human rights situation in China has seriously deteriorated. It's a blatant lie.

As a matter of fact, it's the United States who has violated the human rights of the Chinese people. On the 8th of May last year, the United States bombarded the Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, killing 3 Chinese journalists and wounding more than 20 embassy staff members, grossly trampling upon the sovereignty of China and the human rights of the Chinese people. However, up to now after a whole year, the US is yet to give a satisfactory explanation to the Chinese Government and the Chinese people. On the contrary, the US representative comes to the sacred forum of the UN Commission on Human Rights to make unwarranted attacks on China, trying to confuse right and wrong and confound black and white. Such behavior is a hopeless degeneration of ethics.

The human rights situation in China has been improving steadily. The real reason for the US to table a resolution slanderously against China with such obstinacy in spite of their 10-year record of repeatedly failed attempts, is to serve the needs in its domestic party politics and fish for votes in the elections. The United States itself used heavy artillery to deal with their problem of evil cults. However, out of an ulterior political motive and in total disregard for the human rights of the Chinese people including those of the victims of Falun Gong, the US is giving unreserved support for an evil cult in China. China has successfully saved over 98.5% of the Falun Gong practitioners through the humane approach of education. This should normally be appreciated as a contribution to the international protection of human rights, but draft resolution L.30 tabled by the US makes groundless accusation against China on this point. This is a typical example of double standards. This draft resolution can only provoke confrontation among the States Members, poison the atmosphere and seriously obstruct the work of the Commission. If allowed for the United States, it will be without doubt an indecent act toward the sacred international cause of human rights protection as well as toward this Commission.

Second, China's motion of "no action" is fully justified by the existing statute.

The US representative asserts that China's motion of "no action" is against the rules of procedure of the Commission. That's absolutely nonsense. The rules of procedure applied in the Human Rights Commission were established by ECOSOC through legal procedures and have been in effective use for many years. Article 65, paragraph 2 has been invoked and applied at numerous occasions and has never been called into question. The fact that this Commission has adopted almost every year during the past 10 years such motions moved by China and other countries attests to this. And the US has always cast its vote on all such motions. China's motion of "no action" on L.30, a draft resolution in serious contravention to the purposes of the Human Rights Commission, is precisely an effort to prevent a possible deviation in the work of the Commission. It is fully justified and legitimate. In fact, such motions have often been used also in other UN organs. The United States itself has used it at many occasions in the UN General Assembly and other forums in order to block the adoption of resolutions and decisions short of their liking. To put it bluntly, the attack of US against China's move is a claim of exclusive rights, a typical act of hegemony. I need not remind the US representative here that we are meeting in the UN Commission on Human Rights but not in the US Congress; and that the Commission follows the rules of procedure of the United Nations but not the will of the US.

Last but not the least, it is the US who is seeking special treatment in the Human Rights Commission.

The US charges that China's motion of "no action" is aimed at seeking a special treatment so as to obstruct the discussion of China's human rights situation by the Commission. However, ever since the opening of this session, many delegations have been making various comments on the human rights situation in China. China for its part, has also been providing information on its practices in promoting and protecting human rights under relevant agenda items, both at its own initiative and in clarification on related questions. Throughout the session the guest speaker from the United States and the US representatives have made references to the so-called human rights problems in China ad nauseam. They have also made replies and counter-replies to the statements by the Chinese delegation. For some reason, they are now complaining about not being able to discuss the question of human rights in China. The statements by Mme Albright and Mr. Koh still ring loudly in the ears of the Commission Members, why is the US representative particularly amnesiac?

In reality, it is precisely the US who is seeking special treatment and practicing double standards on the question of human rights. The US constantly points its fingers at the developing countries in the name of human rights. China is but one of its victims. The US is notorious with its racial discrimination, police brutality, tortures in prison, campus shooting and other serious violations of human rights. It incessantly urges other countries to sign and ratify the human rights conventions whereas it itself lags far behind. It even refuses to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a convention accepted by almost all other countries. If the US really believes that the only way to discuss a country's human rights issues and improve its human rights situations is by discussing country-specific resolutions, then it should be courageous enough to table without any hesitation a draft resolution entitled The Situation of Human Rights in the United States of America, so as to earnestly improve its scandalous human rights record at home.

Mr. Chairman,

A new century has dawned and all will change for the better. The Chinese people, after over 100 years of humiliation and oppression, have regained their youthful spirit, and are now marching proudly into the new century. The brave strides of the 1.3 billion Chinese people can be stopped by no one. History has proven, and will continue to prove, that hegemony, power politics and any attempt to control other people's destiny can only lead to self-destruction.

The Chinese delegation appeals to all States Members of the Human Rights Commission to stand by the principle, uphold justice and resist the political pressure of the US. Voting in favor of China's motion of "no action" and against the US draft resolution is an act to safeguard the solemnity, objectivity, impartiality, and thus credibility, of the Commission.

Now, I request that the motion of "no action" be decided on by a roll-call vote.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.