Chinese envoy calls for end to unilateral coercive measures

A Chinese envoy on Friday called for an immediate and unconditional end to unilateral coercive measures (UCMs), as they are one of the culprits for international turbulence and disarray in the present-day world order.

Speaking on behalf of a cross-regional group of 28 member states at the third committee of the United Nations General Assembly's 80th session, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said the world is plagued with rampant unilateralism and raging unilateral coercive measures.

Fu warned that despite the global call to urgently lift these illegal measures, the continued imposition continues to cause devastating, sometimes even life-threatening, consequences to targeted countries and their peoples.

Fu also said that these illegal measures also gravely affect the stability of the global production and supply chains, as well as food, energy, and financial security, and seriously undermine the world economic order and the efforts of the countries concerned to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

"Moreover, UCMs severely violate the basic human rights, including the right to life, health, development and education and impede the ability of targeted countries to realize those rights. We are also concerned that unilateral coercive measures and over-compliance have limited the ability of affected countries to access and acquire foreign investment and technologies, and hindered international cooperation in culture, arts, sports, travel, people-to-people exchanges and transports, including civil aviation," Fu continued.

Fu reaffirmed China's opposition to unilateral coercive measures and called on the few Western countries to heed the just calls of the international community, honor their commitments to upholding the UN Charter and other international law, and immediately, unconditionally and completely lift all unilateral coercive measures.

China also calls upon other member states, the UN system, and other international organizations to jointly oppose such unlawful practices and help targeted countries mitigate their plight, according to Fu.

In a subsequent debate, Fu said that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, along with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping respectively in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, clearly advocates the common values of all humanity, reflects the shared aspirations for peace, justice and progress, and offers a clearer blueprint for the future of humanity.

They also contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to strengthening and improving global governance, Fu said.

China is willing to work with all other parties to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, uphold fairness and justice, promote openness and inclusiveness, strive to turn the aspirations of people from all countries for a better life into reality, and build a world of prosperity and well-being for all, said the Chinese envoy.

Chinese envoy calls for end to unilateral coercive measures

Chinese envoy calls for end to unilateral coercive measures

Chinese envoy calls for end to unilateral coercive measures

Chinese envoy calls for end to unilateral coercive measures

Italian political and social figures have strongly condemned the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, in which the U.S. special forces kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Critics argue that the United States, driven by its desire for Venezuela's oil resources, has violated international law by forcibly interfering in the country's internal affairs, an act that not only infringes on Venezuela's national sovereignty but also threatens peace and stability in Latin America.

"A major power like the United States has repeatedly violated international law. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last. The U.S. action is extremely blatant, extremely shocking. We have become accustomed to it," said Italian MP Riccardo Ricciardi.

"They (the United States) can kidnap, kill, invade, and plunder other countries' resources. By what right? The right of the powerful? The right of gangsters? This is precisely the problem facing the world today. We must build a new international system -- a system in which such actions are no longer permitted and will be held accounted to pay dearly," said Pino Arlacchi, former UN under-secretary-general, who is also an Italian sociologist.

"The incident is an unprecedented international crime, an armed aggression against a sovereign state resulting in over 100 deaths. The forced control of a sitting head of state violates at least 30 international laws, including the UN Charter and other international customary laws," said Fabio Marcelli, an Italian legal expert.

"Donald Trump's objective is not to combat drug trafficking, which is only a pretext. The true U.S. objective is to gain control of Venezuela's resources. The United States does not represent the entire American continent, nor is it the sole protagonist in the global landscape. Ultimately, it is U.S.-led unilateralism challenging multilateralism," said Clara Statello, an Italian journalist.

Italian figures condemn US intervention in Venezuela