Friday’s UN Human Rights Council special session on Iran saw China, via envoy Zha Peiyang in Geneva, staunchly defend national sovereignty against external pressures. Prompted by Iceland among others, the gathering spotlighted Iran’s evolving domestic scene, fueling intense debate.
Zha articulated China’s core stance: countries must freely chart their human rights courses. Beijing rejects human rights pretexts for internal meddling, non-consensual country-tailored systems, and selective moralizing.
‘Internally, Iran decides its fate through its people’s will,’ Zha affirmed. Adhering to UN Charter ideals and international law, China stands against coercive tactics or willful impositions in global affairs.
Support for Iran, Zha proposed, must precondition on respecting its sovereignty, security, and wholeness—helping overcome obstacles, ensure stability, and uphold rights. Beijing urges dialogue to mend rifts, ready to contribute positively. As global eyes fix on Iran, China’s position reinforces its vision of a multipolar world free from hegemonic interference.