China has reported Australia to the UN expressing “deep concern” over the Australian government’s operation of offshore detention centres. Beijing has also called for the sites to be closed immediately.
In a statement to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, China alleged that the detention centres “fall short of adequate medical conditions where a large number of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been detained over a long period of time or even indefinitely, and their human rights have been violated”.
The statement did not specify any locations, describing them as “third countries”. However, reports indicate that asylum seekers are intercepted at sea en route to Australia. And sent for “processing” to Papua New Guinea or to the South Pacific island of Nauru.
China further described the camps as vocational centres designed to combat extremism, urging the Australian government to shut them down.
“We urge Australia to immediately close down all offshore detention centres. And take concrete steps to protect the rights of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, especially children.”
War Crimes
It also called on Australia to carry out “comprehensive and fair investigations” into reported claims of “serious war crimes” allegedly committed by Australian troops overseas.
This accusation is based on an Australian inquiry published in November, which implicated Australian Special Forces in war crimes. It accuses the Special Forces of killing 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.
Ties between the two countries soured in 2018 when Australia became the first nation to publicly ban Huawei’s 5G network. And worsened when last year, Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
China is also facing accusations that it operates detention centres, with UN rights groups estimating it has detained more than a million people in its Xinjiang region. According to the UN, detainees mostly include Uighurs and other Muslim minorities, in a vast system of camps.
China open to global cooperation australia
Separately, Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang has stressed that China is open to global cooperation, whether in science and technology or in investment and trade.
Li said China’s determination and efforts to make further advances in the fields of science and technology are compatible with promoting global cooperation, as scientific inventions require cooperation and joint efforts.
He added that China is willing to strengthen such cooperation on the basis of protecting intellectual property rights. And jointly promoting the progress of human civilization.
In the field of trade and investment, Li said China’s new development pattern of “dual circulation” aims to develop both the domestic market and expand international opening-up. This, he said, means China will promote opening-up and cut the “negative list” for foreign investment in the country. Whiles boosting the opening up of its services sector.
He stressed that China’s economy has been deeply integrated with the international economy and therefore couldn’t seek development by closing its doors.
“This shows that only based on mutual respect and equal treatment, can countries achieve consensus and common interests, helping promote the well-being of peoples, and stabilize industry and supply chains to inject momentum into the global economy.
“We hold an active and open attitude to both multilateral and bilateral mechanisms, if they are beneficial for mutual benefits.”
Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang
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