ABSTRACT
Since joining the UN in 1971, China has voted in the affirmative for the vast majority of human rights resolutions in the UNGA. This is in sharp contrast to China’s domestic human rights record according to many datasets that measure human rights practice. When examining the resolutions and the countries that China votes with on such resolutions, however, it is clear why China has such a voting record: it has consistently voted with the governments of developing countries in the UNGA. In other words, if a human rights resolution is either favorable to the government of a developing country or if the resolution criticizes a developed country because of its actions in a developing country, China votes in the affirmative on such resolutions. In regard to how China has voted in the affirmative on the vast majority of human rights resolutions in the UNGA, China has done so not to be a champion of human rights in the UNGA, but rather to advance its own interests and to prevent any potential threat to CCP rule.
