UN expert calls for lifting of restrictions
China DailyEmployees check solar panel products at a tech company in Zhangye, Gansu province. WANG JIANG/FOR CHINA DAILY A United Nations expert on Friday called on countries to lift all sanctions and other restrictions against China, saying that unilateral sanctions, being contrary to international law and ultimately resulting in human rights violations, must not be used as a foreign policy tool and means of economic coercion. "During my visit, I received numerous reports on the unilateral sanctions' adverse impact and the consequent socioeconomic implications affecting people's lives," she said. "The unilateral sanctions against China do not conform with a broad number of international legal norms and are introduced to apply pressure on the state," she said. She further noted that the idea of presumption of legality of unilateral sanctions and the presumption of guilt of companies with any exposure to Xinjiang or designated entities "violate fundamental principles of international law, the provisions of the UN General Assembly and UN human rights resolutions, and constitute an attempt to supplement legal standards with a so-called rules-based order".