On Thursday, December 11, 2025, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun struck back at the European Union after the EU Delegation to China released a human rights statement on International Human Rights Day. At a regular press briefing, Guo accused the bloc of "megaphone diplomacy" and "gross interference" in China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty.
Guo said the EU statement "willfully ignores facts, distorts right and wrong, and is filled with malicious slander, shameless lies and false information." He argued that lessons on human rights cannot come from a side that itself faces challenges such as racial discrimination, refugee rights infringements and restrictions on freedom of speech within its own borders.
The spokesperson highlighted China's progress on human rights, pointing to historic achievements in socialist democracy and the rule of law that, he said, align with the trend of the times and national conditions. Guo noted that the Xinjiang and Xizang regions enjoy social stability, economic growth and ethnic solidarity, while the practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong has earned wide recognition, with residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region enjoying lawful rights and freedoms.
Underlining that China is governed by the rule of law and that everyone is equal before the law, Guo rejected what he called the EU's hypocrisy. "The EU turns a blind eye to its own problems while pointing fingers at other countries," he said, urging the bloc to respect fundamental facts and view China's human rights achievements objectively.
Beijing has lodged stern representations with the EU and demands that the bloc cease politicizing human rights, stop instrumentalizing sensitive issues and refrain from interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of rights protection. As China–EU ties face complex trade and diplomatic challenges, Guo's remarks signal that heated rhetoric could further strain this critical relationship.
Reference(s):
China urges EU to stop meddling in other countries' internal affairs
cgtn.com
