UN resolution on Syria tainted by geopolitics

The UN General Assembly's human rights committee on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning Syria's human rights record, as well as other countries who assisted in the infringement of human rights.

The non-binding resolution, penned by Saudi Arabia, was adopted with 115 votes in favor, 15 against, and 51 abstaining. China and Russia voted against it.

Who should be held responsible for the deterioration of human rights in Syria, and the outpouring of refugees to Europe? The answers remain disputed. The West used to consider Syrian President Bashar al-Assad the origin of the chaos. The flood of refugees and the terrorist attacks in Paris have shaken some Westerners. Assad is not responsible for the emergence of the Islamic State (IS). And the troubles the IS has brought are only part of the chaotic situation in the Middle East. 

Syria before 2011 was not a perfect country, but still much better than today's country torn apart by various forces and militants. The civil war has its domestic reasons, but the outside influence of the "Arab Spring" played an important role. The Assad administration enjoyed relatively better public support than other political groups, which is why the various opposition factors still cannot bring him down after years of military conflicts.

Now there are Syrian government forces, opposition forces supported by the West, and the IS. Among the three, it is hard to believe that the government troops treated the civilians worse than the other two did.

The UN resolution has been largely affected by geopolitics. We support China's decision to vote against the resolution, which are often twisted by geopolitical factors. It often resulted in disrupting a country's economic foundations to develop human rights, and failed to improve the situation. 

Syria is a typical example. In 2011, Syria did have human rights problems. But when Assad vowed to reform and began acting on it, the West turned a blind eye to him and continued to arm up the opposition. 

This is no longer aimed at human rights, but aimed at knocking out a country that is close with Russia and Iran.

The world will be in disorder if the West can label any country it chooses as violating human rights and deserving to be punished.

The direction of the Syrian government should be decided by its own people. 

China has been learning the concept of human rights from the West. But when it is attached to political interests of the West, we shall be able to say no. It would be wise for the rising China to develop human rights both ideally and realistically.