After its messy withdrawal from Afghanistan that left the worn-torn country into unchartered territory, the U.S. has been facing a historic foreign policy failure. Involved in different countries, Washington continues to face backlash from different countries. With emerging superpowers, the position of the U.S. in the world is being contested and a new rhetoric of cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and trust is taking the lead in international relations.
One of the areas that are being challenged in relation to the U.S.’s foreign policy is its increased meddling in the internal affairs of other countries as Washington sees itself as a policeman of the world. Designing itself as the sole guardian of human rights, the country is lambasted by many for trying to breach the sovereignty of other nations in the name of human rights protection.
Only last week, dozens of countries have come out to denounce the U.S.’s foreign policy accusing the country of injecting political agenda on the pretext of human rights and dignity.
Submitting a letter via Chinese representative, a group of 13 countries such as China, Cuba, DPRK, Indonesia, Iran, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Venezuela and Zimbabwe come up with a new proposal in dealing with human rights worldwide.
The joint statement delivered by ambassador Chen Xu at the ID with Independent Expert on International Order at the HRC48 (20 September 2021) reads that a democratic and equitable international order is essential to the promotion and protection of human rights.
All parties should practice true multilateralism and make the international order more just and equitable so as to effectively guarantee the full enjoyment of human rights, the statement added.
“To this end, we should: First, uphold fairness and justice firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and oppose bullying, unilateralism and double standards.”
Second, pursue win-win cooperation, conduct dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, bridge differences through consultations and dialogue, achieve universal security through cooperation and promote common development and prosperity.
Third, remain open and inclusive, respect the diversity of civilizations and the development paths independently chosen by countries, and refrain from imposing one’s own social system and model on others or creating division and confrontation.
According to the statement in the field of human rights, all parties should uphold the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, strengthen solidarity, cooperation and dialogue on an equal footing, and refrain from politicizing human rights issues or interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.
“We call on all States to join hands in defending the common values of humanity, namely peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, promoting and protecting human rights and building a community with a shared future for human beings.”
Facing growing tensions with the United States, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterated his nation’s longtime policy of multilateralism on Tuesday, telling world leaders at the United Nations that disputes among countries “need to be handled through dialogue and cooperation.”
His comments came hours after the U.S. President Joe Biden said he didn’t have any intention of starting a “new Cold War” — itself a response to criticism from the U.N. chief that both Washington and Beijing need to make sure their differences and tensions don’t derail their 42-year-old relationship.
“One country’s success does not have to mean another country’s failure,” Xi said in a prerecorded speech. “The world is big enough to accommodate common development and progress of all countries.”
The comments from leaders of the two major powers, the world’s most formidable economies, appeared to represent efforts to calm the waters after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres admonished them over the weekend for putting confrontation over productive dialogue.
China often preaches multilateralism, though its critics say its policies toward Taiwan and in South China Sea territorial disputes strongly indicate otherwise. Without mentioning the United States directly, he said “military intervention from the outside and so-called democratic transformation entail nothing but harm.”
“The world is big enough to accommodate common development and progress of all countries. We need to pursue dialogue and inclusiveness over confrontation and exclusion,” he said.
Repudiated for its foreign policy failure in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. is trying to do the same in Ethiopia by imposing various sanctions on the pretext of human rights abuse. Washington’s position received an outcry from different countries.
“China opposes new US sanctions regime on Ethiopia. We hope the US will be prudent and play a constructive role. We believe the parties concerned in Ethiopia have the wisdom and capability to properly resolve differences, realize national reconciliation and restore peace and stability,” said Zhao Lijian, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People’s Republic of China Meeting with his counterparts and other representatives of different nations in New York on the sideline of the 76th UN assembly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen is trying to shed light on the foreign pressure facing his country.
According to information obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke said the misinformation and disinformation campaigns launched against Ethiopia following the unwarranted TPLF attack on the ENDF are the sources of misunderstandings and the improper and unbalanced view on the situation in Ethiopia.
In their efforts to understand the current situation in Ethiopia, the international community should never forget the destructive acts of the TPLF that created havoc in various parts of the country during its stay in power.
He also underscored that the international community should not fail to understand the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia to protect the safety of its citizens, rule of law, and the sovereignty of the country.
He said the international community should not make decisions based on unsubstantiated allegations, which would endanger longstanding relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister appreciated the concerns of the Government of Ireland to the situation in Ethiopia, adding that Ireland would further make efforts to better understand the reality on the ground.
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
ETHIOPIAN HERALD 24 SEPTEMBER 2021
