US Uyghur bill grossly violates international law
By Zhu
Weinian
The US
House of Representatives just passed the “Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of
2019.” This bill ignores the stable and harmonious development in Xinjiang,
slanders China’s efforts in de-radicalization and counter-terrorism, viciously
attacks the Chinese government’s Xinjiang policy, and deliberately smears the
human rights condition in Xinjiang. It grossly interferes in China’s internal
affairs and seriously violates international law and basic norms governing
international relations, revealing the US’ double standards and hypocritical
hegemonic logic. The act is essentially an abuse of long-arm jurisdiction and a
practice of hegemony in the name of justice.
The Facts and China’s Position on
China-US Trade Friction,
a white paper issued by The State Council Information Office of China states
that “‘long-arm jurisdiction’ refers to the practice of extending one’s
tentacles beyond one’s borders and exercising jurisdiction over foreign
entities based on one’s domestic laws. In recent years, the US has been
extending its ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ to wider areas including financial
investment, anti-monopoly, export control and cybersecurity. In international
affairs, the US has frequently requested entities or individuals of other
countries to obey US domestic laws; otherwise they may face US civil, criminal
or trade sanctions at any time.”
“Long-arm
jurisdiction” has become a hegemonic tool for the US to suppress foreign
entities, interfere in other countries’ internal affairs and even subvert other
countries’ governments. Such power politics, under the guise of domestic “legal
compliance” and “rules to follow,” provides a legal basis for the US to meddle
in other countries and compels US domestic law enforcement. Since the US
Department of Commerce sanctioned 28 Chinese entities by putting them on the “entities
list” and the US House of Representatives passed the “Uyghur Human Rights
Policy Act of 2019,” Washington has repeatedly engaged in long-arm hegemony,
fully exposing its malicious intention to contain and split China under the
pretext of the so-called “Xinjiang issue.”
Under
the pretext of “America First,” the US grants extraterritorial effect to
domestic laws without any multilateral authorization. This has become a common
tactic of the US to manipulate international politics and desecrate sovereign
states by means of “long-arm jurisdiction,” which completely deviates from
justice and international morality.
Since
the principle of state sovereignty is at the core of all principles of
international law, the essence of international law is, in a sense, a legal
system based on equality, mutual benefit and mutual cooperation among
sovereigns in the international community. However, power politics pursued by
the US has completely neglected the sovereignty of other countries. The US is
not so much a participant as a spoiler.
The fact
that the US House of Representatives passed the Xinjiang-related bill and
insisted on “long-arm jurisdiction,” regardless of China’s complete sovereignty
over Xinjiang, has severely violated the principles and rules in international
law. For instance, according to Article 2 in the Charter of the United Nations,
“The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all
its Members.” “Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the
United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the
domestic jurisdiction of any state.” In the Declaration
on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and
Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, “No
State or group of States has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly,
for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs of any other
State.”
International
law and basic norms governing international relations require all countries,
including economically and militarily powerful ones, to fulfill their
international obligations in accordance with the law, conduct international
cooperation with integrity and equality to safeguard the common and fundamental
interests of all mankind. Therefore, the development of egoism and hegemonism
will inevitably stifle the vitality of international law and be universally
rejected by the international community.
Sino-US
relations are facing some difficulties and challenges. Some politicians and
forces in the US adhere to the Cold War mentality, believe in zero-sum game and
are full of ideological prejudice. They attempt to sow discord among various
ethnic groups in Xinjiang and send wrong signals to the violent and terrorist
forces to undermine prosperity and stability in Xinjiang and contain China’s
peaceful growth. The Xinjiang-related bill passed by the US Congress has no
basis in fact, and even less in morality, for Xinjiang has long been an
inseparable part of Chinese territory, concerning China’s core interests. Only
by eliminating violence and terrorism can Xinjiang develop and human rights be
guaranteed.
Xinjiang-related
issues are by no means about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about the
fight against separatism and terrorism. The fight against terrorism and
extremism sticks to the principles of rule of law and conforms to the purposes
and principles of the United Nations in combating terrorism and safeguarding
basic human rights. The government of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
lawfully fought violent and terrorist attacks while addressing the root causes.
Xinjiang is witnessing sound economic growth, harmony among different ethnic
groups and social stability now. Terrorist attacks have been avoided in the
past three years. Those endeavors are endorsed by all 25 million people of
various ethnic groups in Xinjiang. More than 1,000 representatives have visited
Xinjiang in more than 70 groups, including officials from various countries and
regions spanning international organizations and media outlets. They all
praised Xinjiang for harmonious, stable, and prosperous development.
A just
cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust cause finds little support.
Nowadays, peace and development are an irreversible trend of the times.
Principles of international law, such as sovereign equality and
non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, have become universal norms.
Accordingly, every time the “long arm” of the US acts recklessly, it is
overdrawing and eroding its credibility, accelerating the decline of the US.
Their abuse and preference for “long-arm jurisdiction” will only make Xinjiang
people more united and develop Xinjiang into a better place.
The author is from Xinjiang
Development Research Center. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn
Source:Global Times
Haba River,
Xinjiang. (Photo by Wu Yibing from People’s Daily)
US Uyghur bill grossly violates international law
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