AP Exclusive: Diplomats say China puts squeeze on Ukraine
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
GENEVA (AP) — China pressured Ukraine into withdrawing its support for a call for more scrutiny of human rights in China’s western region of Xinjiang by threatening to withhold Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines destined for Ukraine unless it did so, diplomats told The Associated Press on Friday.
Ukraine briefly joined a statement by over 40 countries, presented by Canada at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, urging China to allow immediate access for independent observers to Xinjiang. Some human rights groups have alleged Chinese mistreatment of Muslim Uyghurs and others in the region.
On Thursday, Ukraine pulled its name off the list of supporting states after Chinese authorities warned Kyiv that they would block a planned shipment of at least 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine unless it did so, said diplomats from two Western countries. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Ukraine has agreed to purchase 1.9 million doses of CoronaVac vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech. As of early May, Ukraine had received 1.2 million doses, according to Health Minister Maxim Stepanov.
In the past, China’s government has been no stranger to pressuring other countries in Geneva diplomatic circles or in national capitals either to line up behind its statements or avoid backing statements that criticize, question or seek scrutiny of human rights in the country.
But the alleged pressure would mark an escalation of intense recent efforts by Beijing to push back against criticism of its rights record, this time by potentially jeopardizing health - even lives - as a way to minimize international attention to it, the diplomats said.
One of the Western diplomats called it sign of “bare-knuckles” diplomacy by China. The other diplomat cited “reports of significant pressure in Kyiv,” adding, “last night the delegation told us they needed to pull out.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing and a spokesman for the Chinese diplomatic mission in Geneva in did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Ukrainian authorities did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.
The situation could still change. Under the practice of the 47-member council, countries can add their names to statements or resolutions up to two weeks after the end of a session. The current 3 1/2-week session that began Monday runs until July 13.
Canadian Ambassador Leslie Norton said in a statement Tuesday that “credible reports indicate that over a million people have been arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang.” Norton’s statement was initially backed by 41 countries and is now supported by 44. Ukraine was briefly country No. 45.
Norton also pointed to “reports of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, forced sterilization, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced separation of children from their parents by authorities” in China.
Also Tuesday, a Chinese diplomat decried shortcomings in Canada’s own rights record, pointing notably to abuses against Indigenous peoples. Belarus read a joint statement -- allegedly by 64 countries -- speaking out in defense of China’s right to manage its own internal affairs such as with Hong Kong or Xinjiang.
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Extortion works short term.
But China spreading anti-vax propaganda, falsely claiming the virus originated in the US, destroying evidence of the virus' origins and forcing countries to choose between standing up against crimes against humanity and trying to save some lives of it's citizens will backfire in the long run. China is showing the world who it is.
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I won't defend any of the CCP's criminal activities, from whatever their involvement with the coverup regarding the virus, their stealing intellectual property to their human rights abuses. I think an investigation into the origins of the virus should continue. I don't really think it's any surprise that they would put external pressure on those they are promising vaccine help. I do think if Trump had been the President of China he would have done the same if not worse. Some automatically accept "America first" as a premise we get behind, but then vilify and condemn other countries when they choose the same path. Of course China will put China first, trying to protect it from scrutiny and condemnation. I'm not saying it's right, it wasn't right when dishonest Donald tried to do the same or when his half wit poorly educated base do the same trying to deflect and obfuscate any mistakes he made. I just hope that the investigations that follow will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, whether it's an investigation into 1/6/21 or into the virus's origins.
Who has America extorted over the vaccines it exports?
And at least our vaccines actually work unlike the 50/50 hit or miss that their inferior product is.
" President Donald Trump was running an extortion campaign against Ukraine, as well as a complex cover-up to keep the public in the dark about his abuse of power."
Just because it was $250 million in military aid instead of vaccines makes little difference.
That says enough about the true nature of the genocidal evil empire based in Beijing that The Ukraine was blackmailed into backing down to.
More of the same:
Chinese scientists have claimed that coronavirus emerged in parts of America and France way before it was found in Wuhan and have called for the outbreak to be probed as a bioweapon.
It comes after a number of scientific studies have reportedly suggested that the virus was circulating in countries such as the US and France long before it was officially confirmed.
It has provided Chinese experts an opportunity to redirect the blame from Wuhan and instead insist that the next stage of virus-tracing investigations should focus elsewhere.
Chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Zeng Guang, told the Global Times that the US should be the focus of the research into the origin of the deadly virus.
64 vs 44, and the winner is.....? I find it interesting that so many Muslim countries think China is handling the separatist terrorism properly. Lots of accusations BUT NO PROOF OF THEM. Since there are at least 11 million Uyghurs in China, why has China detained only a little over a million of them, and the others are continuing to live normal lives? Ever think about that?
As I said, extortion and bribery work, especially in the UN. Or are you now arguing that s UN vote on a matter accurately reflects reality?
s of accusations BUT NO PROOF OF THEM
Okay Trump. Deny, Deny, Deny. There's been plenty of proof published here and everywhere else of the atrocities. Just because you won't face reality doesn't mean the rest of us can't see it.
, why has China detained only a little over a million of them
I never thought I'd see anyone try and justify throwing a million people in concentration camps because of their race/religion as a good thing. Seems like we all agreed that was wrong about 80 years ago....
the others are continuing to live normal lives? Ever think about that?
Sure. Some people actually care when others are thrown in concentration camps. Some aren't bothered by it, I know.
Just pointing out that a majority of nations don't agree with you.
Your opinion. You made the accusation - post the proof.
That's an insult and you're lucky I didn't flag it. You know damn well it has nothing to do with their religion, it has to do with their extremism and separatism and terrorism, otherwise how come the greatest majority of Uyghurs are living peacefully?
And that is a totally ridiculous and desperate comment.
Reminds me of the old Soviet Unions defense of throwing elements of dissident Jewish populations into their gulags. Some things about communism never change.