ABSTRACT

This chapter examines China’s voting and statements in the UN on country-specific human rights issues. Here there is a stark contrast in China’s voting. Based on both an examination of China’s voting record and a content analysis of its voting on country-specific resolutions and its statements, it is not accurate to argue that China is opposed to country-specific resolutions, as it has voted in the affirmative on many such resolutions. Specifically, the Chinese government has consistently voted to criticize Israel and Western states (e.g. on Portuguese involvement in Africa) regarding human rights issues. However, China almost always refuses to condemn human rights abuses in developing countries with both its statements and its voting in the UN.