China is expected to counter criticism at UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva
The UN’s Human Rights Council will meet in Geneva today for three weeks of deliberations.
China has pre-empted likely criticisms by signalling that it will be prepared for any censures from the Council. In particular, China refers to Beijing’s crackdown on the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region. A letter in July from 22 countries condemned the mass arbitrary detentions and ‘re-education’ camps that Uyghur detainees are sent to. The letter was countered by 37 Chinese allies in the Council, which praised China’s policies in Xinjiang.
China has successfully exploited a split between Muslim countries in particular on how to respond to Beijing’s treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Turkey has led a chorus of criticism while Saudi Arabia has defended China’s role in its western region.
China likely expects its Belt and Road allies—many of which are Muslim countries—to support its policies against Uyghurs. China will continue to exploit the myriad geopolitical differences though aid and economic deals in Africa and the Middle East to keep any unified global condemnation at bay, effectively meaning less pressure for Beijing to change course in Xinjiang.
