West presses China as UN reviews its rights record, Beijing says it protects human rights

Western countries used a U.N.-backed review of China’s human rights record yesterday to press Beijing to do more to allow freedom of expression, protect the rights of ethnic minorities and “repeal” a security law in Hong Kong that is derided by activists, among other things.

China’s ambassador in Geneva, Chen Xu, led a delegation from some 20 ministries in China for the review under the U.N. Human Rights Council. He stressed China’s progress in poverty eradication, said citizens engage in “democratic elections,” and said freedom of religious belief is safeguarded.

“China upholds respect for and protection of human rights as a task of importance in state governance,” Chen said through an interpreter.

“We have embarked on a path of human rights development that is in keeping with the trend of the times and appropriate to China’s national conditions and so-called historic achievements in this process.”

“We uphold the people-centered philosophy and strive to deliver a better life for all the people,” he said.

The process, which encourages constructive recommendations over sharp criticism, nevertheless gave way to firm, if not scathing, advice to China from some leading Western countries.