President,

I welcome the initiative of Somalia for convening today's open debate. I thank Secretary-General António Guterres, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf for their briefings. 

For 80 years, driven by the deep reflection on the two World Wars, member states have worked together to establish an international system with the United Nations at its core and international order based on international law and the fundamental norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. 

Fast forward to today. We're alarmed to witness the resurgence of unilateralism, the rampant rise of power politics and the unbridled resort to bullying, all of which severely undermine the international rule of law. More than ever, we need to strengthen unity and cooperation, revitalize the rule of law at the international level, and strive to realize the vision of peace, security, prosperity and progress. 

First, we must resolutely uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The UN Charter is the fundamental guideline for handling international relations and an important bedrock for stable international order. The myriads of challenges that the world faces today do not mean that the Charter is outdated, but rather that its purposes and principles have not been effectively implemented. All states should treat each other as equals, respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, commit themselves to the peaceful settlement of disputes, oppose the use or threat of use of force in international relations, and abide by the golden rule of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. 

Second, we must staunchly maintain the authority of international rule of law. International law is a common standard that is equally and uniformly applicable to all states. It does not and should not have any exceptions. We never believe that any country has the right to act as the international police, nor do we accept that any country can style itself as an international judge. The world cannot revert to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak. All states must abide by universally recognized international rules, honor commonly agreed international treaties and fulfill their respective international obligations. Major powers should play a leading role in this regard. They must refrain from double standards or selective application, nor should they impose their own will on others. 

Third, we must follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. An increasingly multi-polar world and the democratization of international relations are the irreversible trends of our times. The future of the world should be jointly shaped by all countries. International rules should be formulated by all states, and the benefits of development should be shared by all nations. No single country should dictate terms based on its power, and a winner-takes-all approach is unacceptable. We must advocate and practice true multilateralism, promoting equality of rights, rules and opportunities among all states, and continuously increase the representation and voice of developing countries in the international system. 

Fourth, we must support the United Nations in playing its central role. The United Nations is the most universal, representative and authoritative intergovernmental organization and an important platform for all countries, especially small and medium sized ones, to participate in international affairs on an equal footing. The more complex this international situation, the more important it is to uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations. The role of the UN must be strengthened rather than weakened. We shall not cherry-pick our commitment to the organization, nor shall we bypass the UN and create alternative mechanisms. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. As such, its status and role are irreplaceable. 

President, 

The victory of the Second World War defended the moral baseline of humanity and gave rise to the modern international law system. 80 years ago, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East tried Japanese war criminals and handed down severe punishment against the perpetrators, whose hands were stained with the blood of the people of victim countries. The Tribunal's rulings upheld international justice, maintained human dignity, and represented a stern warning against any illegal attempts to resurrect militarism or revive aggression and expansionism. Recently, however, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made some regressive statements that defy the tide of history. She blatantly linked Taiwan, province of China, to the so-called situation of existential crisis for Japan, and sent a wrong message, implying Japan's possible armed intervention in the Taiwan question. China's recovery of Taiwan is a victorious outcome of the Second World War and an integral part of the post-war international order. This ironclad fact has been affirmed politically and has irrefutable historical and legal bases. Takaichi's preposterous remarks constitute a brazen intervention in China's internal affairs, an open breach of Japan's international obligations as a defeated state, a blatant challenge to the international order based on international law, and a gross violation of the basic norms governing international relations founded on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We urge Japan to face up to the history, reflect on the wrongdoings and take concrete actions to address the concerns of the international community in a responsible manner. 

President, 

More than 70 years ago, China put forward the five principles of peaceful coexistence, setting a historical benchmark for the rule of law at the international level. Last year, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative with adherence to international rule of law as one of its core principles. As a firm defender of the international rule of law, China has joined almost all universal intergovernmental organizations and acceded to more than 600 international instruments and amendments, faithfully fulfilling its treaty obligations and genuinely honoring its international commitments. China remains committed to working actively with all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind and make renewed contributions to strengthening the international rule of law and promoting world peace and development. 

Thank you.

Second Round of Remarks on Reaffirming International Rule of Law: Pathways to Reinvigorating Peace, Justice and Multilateralism by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Open Debate

President, 

China firmly opposes the erroneous remarks made by the representative of the United States just now regarding the South China Sea issue, and has to make a solemn response. 

I want to emphasize that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and their adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea have sufficient historical and legal basis. 

I also want to remind the U.S. representative that the United States is not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and has even less right to style itself as a judge of the Convention and point fingers at other countries. The U.S. side disregards the historical context and objective facts of the South China Sea issue, spreads rumors and sows discord everywhere, and has even deployed offensive weapons, including land-based intermediate-range missiles, in the South China Sea region. Under the name of "freedom of navigation", it frequently sends advanced ships and aircraft to the South China Sea to conduct military reconnaissance and exercises, and unauthorizedly enters China's territorial sea and airspace as well as the sea and airspace adjacent to islands and reefs. Who is engaging in "coercion" and "bullying" in the South China Sea, who is disrupting regional stability and threatening the freedom and safety of navigation, and who is undermining the international rule of law? The truth speaks for itself. 

Thank you, President.