China counters US on 'human rights' issue... "Must take a fair stance on the Palestine issue" (Comprehensive)

US Blatant Pro-Israel Policy Criticized
Sanders Also Criticizes, "Palestinian Lives Matter Too"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United States, which had criticized China on the grounds of human rights in the international community, has reversed its stance due to the Palestinian conflict. China is directly criticizing the U.S. at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open meeting and pressuring for the adoption of a UN joint statement urging Israel to cease its attacks on Palestine. Within the U.S., criticism of Israel-biased Middle East policy is rising, drawing attention to whether this will influence the Biden administration's future Middle East policy.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 16th (local time), the UN Security Council convened its first virtual open meeting one week after the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, the armed faction in the Gaza Strip. At this meeting, criticism of the U.S.'s pro-Israel actions, led by China as the rotating chair of the UNSC this month, was predominant.

Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, attending the meeting as China's representative, stated, "Regrettably, due to the opposition of one country, the UN Security Council has been unable to raise its voice regarding the Palestinian conflict," and emphasized, "We hope the U.S. will take responsibility on the Palestinian issue and adopt a fair stance, urging support for a Security Council statement to ease tensions."

On the same day, China, along with 14 other UNSC member states including Norway and Tunisia, issued a joint statement demanding Israel immediately cease all violence, provocations, and destructive acts against the Gaza Strip, pressuring the U.S. to join in supporting the statement. This marks a 180-degree turnaround in China's position, which had been criticized by the U.S. over human rights issues such as the Hong Kong National Security Law, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and Tibet since last year.

Previously, the UNSC held closed meetings on the 10th and 12th following the initial outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, intending to issue a public statement, but was blocked by the U.S. The U.S. government opposed the UNSC public statement, arguing it could worsen the situation, but the international community criticized the U.S. for siding with Israel.

Amid international criticism, Thomas Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, defended by saying, "The U.S. is continuously working through diplomatic channels to halt the conflict and is ready to support if the parties pursue a ceasefire," but critical voices are also emerging within the U.S.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democratic primary candidate in the last presidential election, criticized the government's pro-Israel policy in an article contributed to The New York Times on the 14th, stating, "For the U.S. to be a trusted voice on human rights on the international stage, we must uphold international human rights standards even when politically difficult," and added, "The lives of Palestinians matter too."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.