China to UN: "anyone without bias can see that President Duterte has made positive efforts since assuming office to combat drug-related crimes

The Philippines found an unlikely ally from China.

Barely a week from the time the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein suggested that the Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte needs to undergo a “psychiatric evaluation”.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights cited the actions of Duterte of repeteadly criticising the human rights defenders and the inclusion of a United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz in a terrorist list, that led to the suggestion of the Philippine president to undergo a “psychiatric test.” 

China, being a one of the five  permanent members of the United Nation Security Council member weighs in and defended the actions of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, urging the in international community to "respect" the country's sovereignty and view its programs objectively.

"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," China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said in a press briefing in Beijing.

"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," he added.

The Duterte administration has already clarified that the inclusion of UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz in the terrorist list is not because of the position she occupies as a UN special rapporteur  but due to intelligence report  linking her to the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army. 

China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson further states that "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".

Source: PNA