Sha Zukang: There is an old saying in China that "a man doesn't flick when he has tears, just because he hasn't reached the sad place". What I want to say is to change it. "Men don't cry lightly, just because they are not happy." When the number of votes was reported as 18, I, Sha Zukang, shed tears of excitement. I think I'm rather timid. I have such confidence, but I am so excited.
Reporter: If you compare this election of WHO Director-General to a battle, what role do you play in this battle?
Sha Zukang: frontline commander. Headquarters is the central government, and we have many battlefields. I am at the front line, because the election is held there and the real decisive battle is held there.
Reporter: As China's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United Nations, what thoughts have you had in this competition?
Sha Zukang: I once told my colleagues that after the news was announced, every bone of mine fell apart. What I want to say is the first point: the proposal of Margaret Chan to run for the election was put forward by the delegation in Geneva.
Reporter: As for you, is it necessary to make such a suggestion? Sha Zukang: As an individual, I want to make such a suggestion, which means that I have to bear such a responsibility. I can only win, not lose. I have never lost!
Reporter: What kind of work have you done? Your tired bones are falling apart?
Sha Zukang: For example, a few days before the election, I received 12 to 13 ambassadors a day. Even at 1 1 in the evening, I met with the health ministers of the countries concerned and informed him of the situation, telling him that it was not easy to sharpen guns at the cold feet. I said, we should win, and of course we won very beautifully.
During Sha Zukang's five-year diplomatic career as an ambassador, it is not the first time to strive for a senior position in an international organization for China. In the past five years, Sha Zukang led the team to carry out busy and fruitful multilateral diplomatic negotiations and mediation, and successively won important leadership positions in international organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, the Universal Postal Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization for China; It also won the right to host the 2006 China Hongkong Telecom World Exhibition, ending its 33-year monopoly on the Geneva Exhibition.
Unlike new york, the political headquarters of the United Nations, Geneva is a veritable place to make rules of the game. There are many international organizations here, and the diplomatic negotiation struggle is extremely complicated and fierce. In 20001year, Sha Zukang, then 54 years old, returned to Geneva as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva. At the beginning of his tenure, he startled visiting foreign ambassadors.
Reporter: When you first took the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Geneva, we knew that the ambassadors from all countries in Geneva came to congratulate and visit with courtesy, but you gave the British ambassador different courtesy, didn't you?
Sha Zukang: He said, Sir, the British Empire is concerned about your human rights situation. I paid a visit. You asked me such a substantive question as soon as you came up. I think he is the first rude person. My first reaction was, Ambassador, do you know what I'm thinking now? He said, I don't know. How can I look at your face and think of the Opium War? At that time, you forced the people of China to take opium, but the people of China refused, so you started a war. Opium infringes on China people's right to health. How many years have you illegally occupied Hong Kong? It was not returned until 1997. During your occupation, you never held any elections in Hong Kong. Today, you suddenly care about the rights of China people. It always feels unnatural.
Reporter: What was the expression of the British ambassador when you said this?
Sha Zukang: He was a little shocked. He seems to be acting unnatural. He said that our government really doesn't care much, but our government must consider our public opinion. Our NGOs are very concerned about this issue and put pressure on the government. I said, I understand. I have worked abroad for so many years. Of course, I know the influence of western NGOs. I can understand that. I can tell you that there are many NGOs in China, and China has a population of 654.38+0.3 billion. They also have different concerns. Then you said, because they have concerns, you come on their behalf, and NGOs reflect your opinions. As a government, it cannot effectively manage non-governmental organizations. Does it mean that your government is incompetent and can't manage things? Is that what you mean?
Reporter: When you decide to hit him back in this fierce way, aren't you worried that it will affect the future relationship between the two sides?
Sha Zukang: Don't worry, because he is hypocritical. Why should we consider my influence on bilateral relations? Why doesn't he consider affecting our bilateral relations? I believe in this one, which is equal treatment. Because he made a mistake first, and he did it for political purposes. He knows better than anyone. He knows better than anyone what he's doing. I think he deserves it. If I don't fight back, he will think I am weak. That's what happened to you. If you admit it, he will become more and more arrogant. This is unacceptable to me.
Reporter: Were you really angered by your emotions?
Sha Zukang: I'm not exciting. This is me as a diplomat in China. I'm not young anymore. I'm not easily angered. I am calm. I know the history of China and the history of the world. Because as long as I think of this paragraph, I have a sense of humiliation. You finally gave me a chance to express my concern.
Sha Zukang: "Western countries are by no means national models for protecting human rights, and developing countries are by no means leaders in human rights violations. (United Nations) The Human Rights Council has not authorized any country or group of countries to become human rights judges, and developing countries should not be accused of human rights courts forever. There is an old saying in China, "Correct yourself first". We hope that individual countries will take a good look at themselves with a mirror before criticizing and accusing others. "
This is Sha Zukang's wonderful speech at the 60th UN Human Rights Conference on March 24th, 2004. Geneva has always been the main battlefield of the human rights struggle. In the face of the anti-China proposal thrown by the United States at the conference, Sha Zukang fought back and made an impromptu reply in English, expressing his willingness to send a mirror to the United States for free.
Sha Zukang: I said, American friends, China is a poor developing country, but even though we are poor, we can still afford some mirrors. We want to buy you some mirrors for free, so that you can look at yourself, because one piece of the white paper you published is missing. Our press office in the State Council has written a material called "White Paper on Human Rights in the United States". This is a mirror. I hope everyone can have a look and see how it is written. But one thing, I advise you not to read it before going to bed, because after reading the human rights record in the United States, especially before going to bed, you will have nightmares and sleep badly at night. I'm just kidding.
Reporter: What was your reaction after you said this?
Sha Zukang: I remember the four-minute defense, which was interrupted by applause five times. Everyone applauded, including the American delegation itself, and he felt very funny. To be honest, he didn't take the anti-China proposal so seriously. My feeling is this. He doesn't really care about human rights in China. He also showed that he cared more about the people of China than about the government of China. I feel, I'm afraid, this attitude is also very strange. I think their first concern is themselves.
Reporter: Is your sarcastic answer completely impromptu?
Sha Zukang: Improvise, completely in English. I have a characteristic that my English is poor, just like my Chinese is fragmented, but it is strange that my English is better than usual on such occasions. The meeting was too tense and needed a little humor, so it was praised by everyone and became a much-told story in Geneva. It has become a well-known saying for women and children to let Americans buy a mirror to take a look.
In the end, the US anti-China proposal was rejected by China's no-action motion by an unprecedented margin of 28 votes in favor and 16 votes against. Sha Zukang often jokes that he is a peasant diplomat and likes to be straightforward. Foreign media also commented that his diplomatic style was "surprisingly frank". In an interview with BBC reporters in August this year, Sha Zukang's surprisingly outspoken remarks once again attracted the attention of the global media. When talking about the US government's concern about China's increasing military budget, Sha Zukang said angrily that the United States had better shut up and keep quiet. This is a radio recording clip at that time:
"You'd better shut up and keep quiet. Much better. "
You'd better shut up and keep quiet, which is very, very good.
"Why do you want to blame China? Don't! Forget it. Time to shut up! It is America's sovereignty to do what they think is good for them. But don't tell us what's good for China. Thank you very much. "
Why condemn China? No, forget it! America had better shut up on this issue! The United States has the right to do what they think is good for them. But the United States should not tell China what to do, thank you!
Reporter: When you were interviewed by BBC on August 17 this year, those words once again attracted great media attention. Do you remember?
Sha Zukang: Of course I remember. Because they mentioned that China's military spending is increasing year by year, and it is opaque, threatening the security of other countries and so on. You know my background. I have been engaged in arms control and disarmament for 16.5 years, nearly 17 years. I have a lot to say in this respect, and I also had some thoughts that day. A few years ago, US military expenditure was equivalent to our country's gross national product (GNP). I said that 65.438+300 million people don't eat or drink, and everything I produce, our GNP, is equivalent to the total military expenditure of the United States. If nothing else, it depends on this one.
Reporter: At that time, you used such fierce words as "shut up" and "shut up". We don't think diplomats should use such words easily, right?
Sha Zukang: It's not easy, so I can be effective. I think he should shut up, because we have been shutting up, and we have never talked about you. Then why do you keep lecturing us and what you say is so unfair? That's why I kept my mouth shut. Why can't you shut up? I think it is normal. Diplomats, they don't say this is their business. I think I should say it. I'm glad they finally shut up
Reporter: Is there such an effect? How can you feel it?
Sha Zukang: It seems that they didn't refute or reply. Of course, if he wants to reply, I'd be happy to. I want to reply with him. That's it.
Reporter: I like this straightforward expression, and I like your flamboyant personality. Some people even say that you are a little aggressive and have never made you sad?
Sha Zukang: It seems that everyone understands that I have many friends. It is strange that my best friend is my American colleague. I like the American character very much. They are very ostentatious, so I have a saying that China is an American-style diplomat. My personality has not brought me any trouble, and everyone is very welcome. East, west, north and south, whether developed or developing countries, all feel that Mr. Sha is reliable, credible and sincere! This is not bragging, you have a chance to get to know each other.
Reporter: But some people just say that it is your extroverted personality that suits an international stage like Geneva?
Sha Zukang: That makes sense. Why? If you do this, you will only get the respect of your opponent, and your opponent will not look down on you. Because everything you say represents your motherland, people value your words very much. If at this time, you are hesitant and unclear, then I think it is dereliction of duty. Need to put quotation marks, to "make it public"! Because of your interests, only you can fight for, fight for and safeguard your interests, and others will not safeguard your interests because they have no obligation. Therefore, the way of multilateral diplomacy is to fight more, and everyone is fighting for their own interests.
Reporter: No matter how ostentatious and straightforward you are, will you set a boundary for yourself?
Sha Zukang: This is a style of work, no matter what it is, but one thing must be firmly grasped, that is, you must faithfully and unswervingly implement the national policy on major policy issues, that is, as an ambassador, you are carrying out the mission on behalf of the country, and there is no room for disagreement on policy issues. You must be consistent with the central authorities. I've done very well. I have never said anything against this policy.
197 1 After graduating from university and joining the diplomatic career, Sha Zukang has experienced many ups and downs in China's diplomacy. He handled the world-famous Yinhe incident, negotiated a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, and handled major diplomatic events such as the first North Korean nuclear crisis. Sha Zukang believes that diplomacy is a contest of high wisdom and high intensity. During his five years as ambassador to Geneva, he made numerous speeches and negotiations on behalf of China. Fortunately, he has never lost his mission, and he has never lost a battle in his 36-year diplomatic career. This is his proudest!
Sha Zukang: I have been sleeping at four o'clock in the morning for four months in the past five years, then at three o'clock, and now I go to bed from two to two thirty. I have no holiday, never Saturday, never Sunday, playing basketball and sweating all the time. I have never been to the store. I did everything I should have done.