China has intensified its diplomatic efforts at the United Nations, calling on member states and international bodies to unite against the use of unilateral coercive measures (UCMs), arguing these actions severely undermine global development, international law, and human rights. Speaking during a recent informal session of the UN General Assembly focused on the inaugural International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures, Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, emphasized that the proliferation of such measures is running unchecked, disproportionately harming developed nations and their populations.
The official’s address served as a powerful plea for collective opposition to UCMs, which Beijing views as destructive tools of unilateralism. Sun asserted that these measures directly contravene the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter and erode the very foundation of the rules-based international order. Furthermore, he highlighted their violation of basic human rights, specifically citing impacts on the rights to life and development.
Impact on Global Development and Law
According to China’s perspective, the pervasive use of unilateral sanctions significantly impedes progress toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The imposition of sanctions, often without UN Security Council authorization, jeopardizes global governance and multilateralism. Sun pointed out that despite widespread international concern, often expressed through numerous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly—over 100 in recent decades—the issue remains a critical geopolitical challenge that continues to stifle economic growth in the Global South.
Sun specifically urged certain Western nations responsible for enacting these extensive sanctions to heed the international call for justice. He demanded the immediate, unconditional, and complete lifting of all UCMs, reinforcing the long-standing demands of developing countries globally.
The date of the session—marking both the first International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures and the 39th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development—served as a crucial moment to raise global awareness regarding the detrimental consequences of UCMs. Sun called upon the international community to use the occasion to strengthen consensus around genuine multilateralism and uphold fairness in global affairs.
China’s Commitment to Global Governance
Positioning China as a major representative of the Global South and a former target of such coercive policies, Sun Lei pledged that Beijing would work collaboratively with partners to resist all forms of hegemony, bullying, and power politics. Guided by its Global Governance Initiative, China committed to supporting a worldwide system centered on the UN and governed by international law.
This commitment includes actively contributing to advancing a more equitable and just global governance structure, aiming ultimately to foster lasting world peace and development. This diplomatic push follows the resolution adopted by the General Assembly in June, formally establishing December 4th as the annual observance of the International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures, solidifying the issue’s prominence on the UN agenda. The emphasis on strengthening international cooperation offers a potential avenue for developing economies to collectively mitigate economic and humanitarian crises fueled by geopolitical tensions.