Source: China News Network
China News Service, United Nations, January 19th - On the first meeting of the preparatory committee for the diplomatic conference on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity, Deputy Head of Mission Sun Lei of the Chinese mission to the United Nations emphasized that the international community should prevent Japan from retracing the old and wrong path of militarism.
Sun Lei said that crimes against humanity are serious offenses threatening international peace and security. This term was first introduced in the charters of the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal and the Tokyo International Military Tribunal. During World War II, Japanese militarism brought profound disasters to the Chinese, Asian, and world peoples. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo International Military Tribunal, which systematically tried and exposed the crimes of Japanese militarism in planning, preparing, invading China and other Asian countries, as well as launching the Pacific War, and sentenced relevant war criminals for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The Tokyo Trial is a historical ironclad evidence of Japan's aggressive crimes, a legal precedent for the development of international criminal law, and a peaceful alarm for rectifying Japan's expansionist policies. The international community should jointly safeguard the achievements of the victory in World War II, including the Tokyo Trial, maintain an international order based on international law, and prevent Japan from retracing the old and wrong path of militarism.
Sun Lei stated that, against the backdrop of the current complex and turbulent international situation and frequent regional conflicts, it is timely and significant to strengthen the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. China has always supported the legal punishment of crimes against humanity, and has actively participated in the General Assembly's Sixth Committee review, and submitted a government written comment at the end of 2023. Here, China wishes to further emphasize the following positions: First, combating crimes against humanity should comply with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles and rules of universally recognized international law. Second, the definition of crimes against humanity is one of the core issues in negotiations and should not be simply copied from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Third, international cooperation in combating crimes against humanity should respect the differences in national conditions and legal systems of various countries.
Sun Lei said that formulating a convention on crimes against humanity concerns the overall interests of the international community and is a major systematic project. All parties should carry out related work with a responsible attitude, respect each other's reasonable concerns, and seek consensus to the greatest extent. China is willing to work with all parties to promote international cooperation in combating crimes against humanity and jointly promote world peace and safeguard international fairness and justice. (End)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/7597276796836381193/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.