The United Nations five-yearly review sparked a split between Western and non-Western states regarding Beijing’s actions in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Western countries criticized China for its treatment of Xinjiang Uighurs and restrictions in Hong Kong, while non-Western states supported China’s claims of progress in various areas. China’s denial of human rights abuses in Xinjiang was countered by the UN’s top rights official, who released a report in 2022 concluding that the detention of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang could constitute crimes against humanity.
China’s diplomatic mission defended its record, stating that it had made significant strides in poverty reduction and human rights development since the last UN review in 2018. In addition, the review meeting saw a division in opinions, with non-Western countries praising China’s efforts in areas such as deforestation reduction, healthcare accessibility, and human rights action plans, while Western states heavily criticized China’s violations in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as its national security law in Hong Kong.
Amnesty International criticized the meeting, accusing some countries of using it as a cover to strengthen ties with Beijing. Furthermore, a protest was planned outside the UN building by Tibetan, Uighur, and Hong Kong activists, as well as Chinese dissidents. The review process involves all UN member states and places their human rights records under scrutiny by other countries approximately every five years.