The debate over China - 22 vs 50

Opinion Analysis by Tala Karkanawi, Staff Writer

January 24th, 2021

The dire concern of China’s human rights abuses has been circulating for years now. 

On the 9th of July 2019,  22 countries delivered a statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council, in which they denounced the accusations held against China regarding their detention of Uyghurs in Xinjang, a region in the northwest. 

The signatories of the joint statement insisted on the urgency of the matter and their concerns about “credible reports of arbitrary detention in large scale places of detention in the region and widespread surveillance and restrictions targeting Uyghurs and other minorities.” It is important to note that the United States did not sign the letter since it exited the United Nations Human Rights council in 2018, under Trump’s administration.  

The letter that was presented by these 22 countries, i.e., The First Letter, mainly focused on calling upon the People’s Republic of China to adhere to the international and customary laws on human rights. In addition, they also stated how the PRC should “refrain from the arbitrary detention and restrictions on freedom of movement of Uyghurs, and other Muslim and minority communities in Xinjiang.”

On the 12th of July 2019, another group of countries wrote a letter, i.e., The Second Letter, embracing China’s astounding human rights record, backing up their policies and regulations, and not recognizing the mass detention of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region. 

The Second letter declared how the United Nations Human Rights Council should work objectively and in a “non-confrontational and non-politicized matter.” It also expressed the countries’ support towards the PRC and mentioned their remarkable achievements when it came to adhering to the international human rights laws. They also emphasized on how the UNHRC should “stop shaming and publicly exerting pressures on other countries.” As well, they argued that spreading false information should be put to a halt, and that countries should refrain from pressing charges against China, yet instead deal with the situation in an impartial manner.

Seeing that there is a split between 22 countries standing against China and 50 countries vouching for China, this allows for a critical interpretation on the controversial, yet humanitarian, situation.

The first point to note is that of the 23 countries who signed the second letter, many were Islamic-majority states that supported the People’s Republic of China. Most Islamic-majority countries have been showing diplomatic support towards the People’s Republic of China and have vouched against the reported mistreatment of the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. This renders the entire situation questionable and controversial, as this sort of diplomatic behavior is relatively and contextually unusual. 

Turkey had an arguable relationship with the People’s Republic of China, as it has shifted its stance towards the Uyghurs and the government multiple times. Turkey and the Uyghurs share an ethno-linguistic bond. The Turkish government has turned itself away from offering even the slightest linguistic support for the Uyghurs and the case. Turkey did not sign the Second Letter; however, President Erdogan did release a statement supporting everything the PRC has been doing, as well as praising the country for the diverse and astonishing treatment of the minorities in the Xinjiang region. He mentioned how “residents of various ethnicities living happily in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region thanks to China’s prosperity is a hard fact, and Turkey will not allow anyone to drive a wedge in its relations with China”.

As it was previously mentioned, the United States did not sign the first letter, even though many disputes have occurred between these two nations over the years. Senior U.S officials have released a statement multiple times concerning the Uyghur situation, accusing China of detaining more than a million Muslims in “concentration camps”. Yet, the U.S. left the UNHRC under Trump’s administration and avoided signing both the first and second letters. 

China’s growing influence over multiple developed and developing countries has affected numerous policies and diplomatic relations. This could also determine what the situation might look like in upcoming years. China’s economy has immensely risen, placing it at the top alongside other world powers. China placed itself in a position of decision making, hence making it impossible for the country to be charged for any possible violation. This also demonstrates how China’s victory in receiving the support of 50 countries for its human rights policies foreshadows the possible clarification and vindication of China’s growing influence and authority in the international arena.