According to the website of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations on October 1st, Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Fu Cong, on that day made a joint statement on unilateral coercive measures on behalf of countries with similar views in the Third Committee of the General Assembly.
Fu Cong said, "I feel honored to speak on behalf of 28 countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cuba, North Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Russia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Sudan, Uganda, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and China."
Currently, unilateralism is rampant, and unilateral coercive measures are widespread. History has shown that unilateral coercive measures are one of the main culprits behind international chaos and the destruction of world order. As the United Nations marks its ninth decade, the international community must remain vigilant, strengthen unity and cooperation, and resolutely counter this illegal practice. Developing countries and their peoples continue to suffer the negative impacts of unilateral coercive measures. These measures violate the principles of sovereign equality and cooperation, interfere in other nations' affairs, go against the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and are contrary to multilateralism and international law.
The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda emphasizes the equal right of all countries to enjoy development benefits. It strongly urges all countries to refrain from enacting or implementing any unilateral economic, financial, or trade measures that are inconsistent with international law and the United Nations Charter.
It is regrettable that, despite repeated calls from the international community for the immediate withdrawal of unilateral coercive measures, these illegal actions continue to have devastating or even fatal consequences for the targeted countries and their peoples, even endangering lives. Unilateral coercive measures, along with secondary sanctions and excessive compliance, exacerbate current humanitarian and economic challenges, posing serious threats to food, energy, and financial security. The use of tariffs as unilateral coercive tools is increasing, including unilaterally determining tariffs based on domestic laws, imposing additional tariffs under the pretext of national security or human rights, further politicizing economic and trade issues, undermining the multilateral trading system, disrupting global industrial and supply chains, and hindering efforts by relevant countries to achieve sustainable development goals.
Furthermore, unilateral coercive measures seriously violate fundamental human rights, including the right to life, health, development, and education. They hinder the ability of target countries to realize these human rights. The Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council noted that unilateral sanctions lead to severe shortages of medicines, vaccines, medical equipment, and energy supplies in the affected countries. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities face particularly difficult circumstances.
Fu Cong pointed out that we are concerned about unilateral coercive measures and excessive restrictions that limit the ability of affected countries to access foreign investment and technological capabilities. These measures also hinder international cooperation in the fields of culture, art, sports, tourism, personnel exchanges, and transportation, including civil aviation.
We welcome the 2026 Ministerial Declaration by "77 Nations Group and China," which reaffirms its stance on implementing unilateral coercive measures against developing countries, including sanctions, without contributing to economic and social development, and hindering national dialogue and mutual understanding. We emphasize that the "Anti-Sanctions Movement" declaration and reports regarding condemnation of unilateral coercive measures, including those used as political or economic pressure tools against any nation, especially developing nations, are being reaffirmed.
We recognize the work done by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights by the United Nations Human Rights Council. We take note of the report, country-specific visits, and statements of the Special Rapporteur.
We reaffirm our opposition to unilateral coercive measures, and call upon a few Western countries to heed the just demands of the international community. They should implement their commitments to the United Nations Charter and international law, and immediately and unconditionally abandon unilateral coercive measures. We also appeal to Member States, the United Nations system, and other international organizations to jointly oppose these illegal measures, provide support to countries under sanctions, and help them alleviate their difficulties. Please continue to monitor instances of political and economic coercion being carried out through unilateral economic measures.
In the current situation, we should strengthen unity and cooperation, oppose separatism, jointly address global challenges, and promote and protect the human rights of all people.
