On October 12, the Legal Committee of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly held a general debate on the topic of “domestic and international rule of law”.

Geng Shuang, the Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, emphasized in his speech that a few countries avoid talking about international law and advocate a “rules-based international order”. The essence of this is a violation of the spirit of the rule of law. It is not multilateralism and democratic justice, but unilateralism and power politics.

Geng said “China has always advocated the democratization and rule of law in international relations, and calls on all countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter.

“Chinese President Xi Jinping clearly pointed out at the general debate of the 76th U.N. General Assembly via video that in the world, there is only one international system, i.e. the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e. the international order underpinned by international law. And there is only one set of rules, i.e. the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter," Geng added.

Geng said China suggests four major choices:

First: The rule of law is not the patent of a small number of countries. International legislation should involve all countries with equal participation. The rules of individual countries cannot be regarded as international rules.

Second: No double standards. Countries should adhere to an objective and fair stand to ensure that international law is interpreted and applied uniformly. Individual countries cannot require other countries to abide by the rules, and at the same time use the rule of law as a pretext to infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of other countries or even undermine peace and stability.

Third: Require fair justice and oppose unilateralism. No country should places its domestic law above international law and interfere in other countries’ internal affairs or seek regime change.

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