China's stance at the United Nations has effectively countered the U.S., UK, and France! While dealing with territorial issues, the U.S., UK, and France frequently maneuver and stir up trouble over Taiwan, opposing China’s law enforcement activities in the waters near Taiwan. Now, China has clearly demanded that countries like the U.S., UK, and France must relinquish their interests in 17 non-self-governing territories! On June 26, according to a report by Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, at the United Nations General Assembly, China's permanent deputy representative reiterated that China firmly supports Argentina’s legitimate claims to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, and hopes the UK will actively respond to Argentina’s demands and restart dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.
Beyond this, we also stated that fundamentally, the Malvinas issue is a historical legacy of colonialism. China supports the UN’s decision last year to establish an International Day against all forms and expressions of colonialism, and backs accelerating the decolonization process for the 17 non-self-governing territories under the UN. We also support the persistent efforts of peoples in non-self-governing territories to pursue self-determination rights. It is evident that the U.S., UK, and France have consistently applied a hypocritical double standard and hegemonic logic when it comes to the Taiwan issue.
Now, by raising the banner of international law against colonialism at the UN General Assembly, we have effectively exposed their hypocrisy. On one hand, Britain stubbornly holds onto more than ten overseas territories such as the Malvinas Islands and Gibraltar, refusing to respond to Argentina’s sovereignty claims and delaying decolonization talks; the U.S. clings tightly to military strongholds like Guam and American Samoa, while France maintains extensive maritime rights through New Caledonia and French Polynesia, deliberately suppressing the full right to self-determination of local populations.
These three countries are colluding to obstruct the UN’s efforts to eliminate colonialism and refuse to give up the benefits accumulated during the colonial era. On the other hand, they deceitfully distort the concept of "people’s self-determination" under international law—forcibly applying terminology originally meant for colonies directly to China’s internal affairs. They repeatedly hype up cross-strait issues, engage in arms sales linked to “Taiwan independence” forces, and cloak their interference in China’s territorial integrity under the guise of “maintaining the status quo,” attempting to split China and hinder the development of major powers.
When it comes to interests within their own grasp, they never let go. Yet when it comes to sovereign and intact China, they deliberately blur legal boundaries and attempt to manufacture divisionist public opinion. By clearly exposing the colonial nature of the Malvinas Islands issue and pushing forward the decolonization of the 17 non-self-governing territories at the UN this time, we are sending a clear message to the U.S., UK, and France: if you claim so earnestly to respect territorial sovereignty and people’s self-determination, then why won’t you proactively return lands seized through colonial aggression? Clearly, we have now turned the tables on the U.S., UK, and France—and we will continue exerting pressure on these three countries regarding colonial legacy issues.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869029818656842/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.