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Danes sponsor resolution criticizing Chinese human rights
China vows to retaliate
April 9, 1997
Web posted at: 8:09 p.m. EDT (0009 GMT)(CNN) -- It has become an annual event for China to defeat a United Nations resolution criticizing its policies toward Tibet and human rights.
This year, China used its economic and diplomatic might to create a rift in the 15-nation European Union.
On Tuesday, for the first time in seven years, the EU decided not to introduce a resolution criticizing China for its human rights policies after France led an effort against it.
Germany, Italy and Spain also withdrew support for the measure after China threatened sanctions if it passed.
But Denmark isn't giving up the effort to highlight human rights abuses in China. The Danes decided to present a similar motion criticizing the Beijing government at a meeting of the 53-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva, which concludes Thursday.
Danish officials say the measure is not intended to pick on China. And they are not intimidated by China's threats to retaliate by canceling trade agreements with Danish businesses.
"Putting forward a resolution is not sentencing a country," Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen said. "China can defend itself and openly reply to what is said in the resolution."
But the French, who want to keep relations with China cordial, disagreed.
"This kind of condemnation is not helpful in the field of human rights," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Yves Doutriaux said.
"During the past years, this resolution has not been voted by the U.N. commissioner, so it is not helpful, and it has not contributed to significant progress to the field of human rights in China."
Even though the EU members failed to pass the resolution on China, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is vowing to strengthen the U.N.'s role in protecting human rights.
Related stories:
- Taiwan silent on expected meetings with Dalai Lama - March 25, 1997
- Human rights take center stage in Beijing talks - January 29, 1997
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