China’s voice rang clear at the UNHRC’s special session on Iran’s human rights landscape, convened urgently on Friday following calls from Iceland and others. Permanent Representative Zha Peiyang, speaking from Geneva, reaffirmed Beijing’s steadfast principles amid heightened focus on Tehran’s internal dynamics.
In a pointed address, Zha asserted nations’ autonomy in shaping human rights trajectories. China firmly opposes exploiting rights issues to interfere in sovereign matters, enforcing bespoke mechanisms sans approval, or wielding inconsistent benchmarks.
Iran’s internal developments, Zha noted, are for Iranians to resolve independently. True to the UN Charter and global legal frameworks, Beijing decries force or threats thereof, or dictating terms to others.
Zha called on the world to honor Iran’s sovereignty, security, and integrity first, then aid its government and people against adversities, in sustaining order and defending entitlements. China hopes for dialogue-driven solutions and offers its good offices for progress. With Iran’s challenges under the spotlight, this session illuminates fractures in international human rights discourse, where China champions principled non-intervention.