Law of the Sea
Environment

The Chinese legislature ratified the 1996 Protocol on the Convention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Waste and Other Matter. A senior governmental official said that China would further amend its marine dumping regulations including the Regulations on Control over Dumping of Waste in the Ocean as soon as the protocol takes effect.

Human Rights

A Chinese delegate to the UN Human Rights Council expressed support for a declaration on the rights of indigenous people. China has no problems with regard to indigenous people's rights, he said.

See previous post.

Diplomatic Protection

The Chinese government voiced serious concern over an incident in which Japanese police shot and killed a Chinese man in Tochigi Prefecture in Japan. Chinese consular officials requested Japanese authorities to conduct an immediate inquiry, keep Chinese officials informed and properly resolve the issue.

See previous post.

Human Rights

A Chinese Vice Foreign Minister claimed at the inaugural session of the UN Human Rights Council that the Chinese government had made great efforts to promote human rights and big progress had been made. He said that human rights protection requires peace, sustainable development, harmonious society, constructive dialogue and institutional safeguards.

See previous post.

Reparation for War Crime

The Tokyo High Court threw out a lawsuit by 42 Chinese who sought compensation from Japan's government and 10 companies for allegedly using them as slave labourers during World War II. The ruling recognised that the defendants were responsible for misconduct but dismissed the plaintiffs' appeal, citing their right to damages expired after a 20-year statute of limitation passed.

See previous post.

Arms Control
Jurisdiction

The US Treasury Department announced financial sanctions on four Chinese companies, accusing them of supplying Iran with "missile-related and dual-use components". A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman called the US action "completely unreasonable and irresponsible". "The U.S. government didn't provide any convincing evidence and acted on its own domestic law", she complained.

Human Rights

It appears as if China is to blame for the poor human rights record not only in China, but in countries such as Sudan, Nepal and Myanmar as well. Amnesty International alleged that China's sales of military vehicles and weapons to those countries have aggravated conflicts and abetted violence and repressive rule there. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman called the allegations "irresponsible and groundless", saying that China always employs a prudent and responsible attitude towards arms exports.

Trade

China's Ministry of Finance declared further cuts on import taxes on certain cars and auto parts to comply with China's commitments on tariff reduction upon its entry into the WTO. The move followed complaints by the EU and the US on China's car import tariffs.

Extradition
International Law and Municipal Law

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party, together with over 20 Party and governmental departments, held a meeting on the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption. A top Chinese official said, "Government departments should narrow the gap between the UN convention and domestic laws and strengthen international cooperation."

See previous post.

Recognition

The Chinese Foreign Minister wrote to his counterpart of Montenegro, stating that China accorded recognition to the Republic of Montenegro. Earlier, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that China respects the choice by the Montenegro people and the result of referendum. He stressed that the Montenegro referendum is completely different from the question of Taiwan.

Environment

Coal combustion at power plants and factories in China is causing soaring pollution at home and abroad. The increase in global-warming gases from China's coal use will probably surpass by five times the reduction in such emissions that the Kyoto Protocol seeks.

Outer Space

A senior Chinese diplomat declared that weaponisation of the outer space could pose serious threats to the world. He said the effective way to prevent outer space weaponisation was to conclude a new international legal instrument.

Extradition

The Federal Court of Canada decided to stay the deportation of Lai Changxing, China's "No. 1 fugitive" in a notorious smuggling case. Justice Carolyn Layden-Stevenson said in her order that "at the heart of the debate" is the issue of China's diplomatic assurance that Lai will not be executed or tortured if he is returned to China.

See previous post.

Extradition

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official revealed that China is negotiating extradition treaties with several countries. He said the pledge not to impose death penalty which China agreed for the first time to be included in the extradition treaty with Spain will serve as a paradigm in future extradition agreements.

See previous post.

Extradition

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman urged Canada to extradite its top fugitive Lai Changxing to China to stand trial. A spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security also said that China has caught 320 criminal fugitives from abroad in recent years, but that about 800 suspects are still at large in foreign countries who were implicated in economic crimes involving about 70 billion yuan.

See previous post.