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"Global Divides and Diplomatic Dramas: China's Controversial Universal Periodic Review"

Kalyani Jha
31 Mar, 2024

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) conducted by the UN Human Rights Council serves as a critical platform for evaluating member states’ human rights records every five years. China’s recent UPR session, however, highlighted the stark divide in perspectives between global south nations and Western democracies regarding China’s human rights situation.

While rights advocates anticipated a rigorous examination of China’s human rights abuses, the review session was marred by orchestrated praise from many global south countries, lauding China for its poverty alleviation efforts. This orchestrated support, reportedly influenced by China’s pre-UPR lobbying efforts, created a stark contrast with the criticism voiced by Western democracies over issues like Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang.

China’s strategic use of terms like “people-oriented philosophy of human rights” and “whole-process democracy” aimed to prioritize stability and economic progress over individual freedoms, resonating well with countries aligned with China or in debt to it.

On the other hand, Western nations and some democracies voiced concerns over China’s rights violations, including arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, and the coercive residential surveillance system. Recommendations ranged from ending such practices to allowing UN experts unrestricted access to China.

Notably, even some developing countries subtly criticized China’s human rights record, emphasizing the need for adherence to UN norms. However, the UPR’s lack of enforcement mechanisms allows China to use the platform to bolster its narrative of a principled global south standing against Western interference.

Despite the UPR’s limitations, the diverse range of criticisms and recommendations underscore the global concern over China’s human rights practices. The session serves as a barometer of international sentiment, reflecting both support and scrutiny towards China’s rights policies.