On October 22, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, addressed the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on behalf of like-minded countries, reiterating their opposition to unilateral coercive measures and calling for the international community to jointly resist such unlawful actions.
In his joint statement representing 28 countries, Fu highlighted the complex global challenges the world is currently facing, emphasizing the need for enhanced solidarity and cooperation within the international community. He asserted that true and effective multilateralism is essential and noted that developing countries and their populations continue to suffer the adverse effects of unilateral coercive measures. These measures, he argued, violate principles of sovereign equality and cooperation, interfere in domestic affairs, contravene the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and undermine the fundamentals of multilateralism and international relations.
Fu pointed out that such measures, along with secondary sanctions and excessive compliance pressures, exacerbate ongoing humanitarian and economic challenges. They severely impact the stability of global production and supply chains, as well as food, energy, and financial security, significantly disrupting the global economic order and hindering the efforts of affected countries to achieve sustainable development goals.
He further noted that unilateral coercive measures violate all human rights, including the rights to life, health, development, and education, thus impeding the ability of target countries to fulfill these rights. The UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures has reported that these sanctions result in severe shortages of medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment in the affected countries, leading to increased mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Fu expressed concerns that these unilateral measures and excessive compliance restrict affected nations’ access to foreign investment and technological capabilities. They also obstruct international cooperation in various fields, including culture, arts, sports, tourism, and transportation, including civil aviation.
He welcomed the 2024 Ministerial Declaration from the Group of 77 and China, which reiterates that the imposition of unilateral coercive measures is counterproductive to the economic and social development of developing countries, as well as to inter-state dialogue and understanding. Fu emphasized the condemnation of such measures as articulated in the Non-Aligned Movement’s statements and declarations.
Fu reiterated their opposition to unilateral coercive measures and called on the concerned states to immediately and completely lift these sanctions. He urged member states, the UN system, and other international organizations to provide assistance to sanctioned countries to help them alleviate their difficulties. Fu called on the international community to recognize the serious consequences of unilateral coercive measures and to collectively resist these unlawful actions. In the current context, he stressed the importance of strengthening solidarity and cooperation, opposing division and confrontation, and working together to address global challenges while promoting and protecting the human rights of all individuals.
