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China defends Duterte: UN rights chief should respect Philippine sovereignty

March 13, 2018 | 11:01am

China defends Duterte: UN rights chief should respect Philippine sovereignty

"Relevant sides of the international community, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, shall respect the sovereignty of the Philippines and the will of its people, view the outcomes of the Philippines' fight against drug and terrorism in a comprehensive, unbiased and objective way, and support its efforts to move forward its human rights cause in light of its national conditions," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said.

FMPRC / Released, Salvatore Di Nolfi / Keystone via AP

MANILA, Philippines — Beijing called out United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein following his suggestion that President Rodrigo Duterte to should see a psychiatrist.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the Duterte government has "won great approval and extensive support among the Philippine people."

"Anyone without bias can see that President Duterte has made positive efforts since assuming office to combat drug-related crimes as well as terrorism, develop the national economy, and improve people's livelihood, which have effectively protected and promoted the Philippine people's fundamental rights to security and development," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a press briefing Monday.

Lu added that the international community, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, should look at the outcome of the Philippine government's campaign against illegal drugs and terrorism in a "comprehensive, unbiased and objective way."

Al Hussein's office should support the efforts of the Philippine government in forwarding its human rights cause amid its national conditions, he added.

"As an agency of the UN, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is expected to fulfill its duties within the framework set out by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," Lu said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said that Al Hussein's remark against Duterte was inappropriate.

As a head of state, Duterte can use any kind of language that he wants but crude remarks from UN officials, such as Al Hussein, is deemed "wholly unacceptable," Roque said.

"There’s a world of a difference between a UN official using crude language hence a sitting head of state and the president using any kind of language that he wants on a private individual especially in this instance when the person using crude language is himself without a democratic mandate," Roque said.