US should improve its own human rights record

Besides, the US is among the very few countries that opposed the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council because the UN's human rights system reform was not to its liking; in fact, it withdrew from the council last year.

The US began reviewing and criticizing other countries' human rights records in the 1970s, although it refuses to reflect on its own human rights problems. It uses its domestic laws including the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to impose economic sanctions or travel restrictions on foreign individuals or organizations on the pretext of human rights violation.

It is clear, therefore, that the US considers itself more equal than others and practices double standards when it comes to human rights.

China is an advocator of international human rights governance. It advocates that global human rights governance be promoted under the UN framework, especially the UN Charter. As to the human rights issue, China advocates dialogue instead of confrontation among countries to resolve them.

Moreover, China provides aid to many countries without any political strings attached, because it aims to promote joint development, not hegemony. 

When it comes to human rights, China has fulfilled all its obligations toward the Chinese people. But instead of accepting this simple fact, the US seems intent on picking a fight with not only China but other countries as well to promote its "America first" policy while ignoring its own poor human rights record.

The author is a researcher at the Institute of International Law, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.