London, March 8, 1995. Beijing was narrowly defeated in a vote at the UN tonight when it attempted to stop the UN discussing the human rights situation in China. The defeat is believed to be the first time a Chinese proposal has been rejected by the UN member states. The defeat came when China, in a procedural manoeuvre, demanded that there should be no discussion of a resolution criticising the human rights situation in China. But the UN, meeting in Geneva for the annual session of its Commission on Human Rights, ruled that the discussion should go ahead on Wednesday morning as scheduled. The resolution, co-sponsored by the western block countries plus Japan and the Dominican Republic, also expresses concern at the "inadequate protection of the distinct cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious identity of Tibetans and others".

Voting in favour of China's "no action" proposal 22 nations: Algeria, Angola, Bangla Desh, Bhutan, Cameroon, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Zimbabwe. Voting against China's "no action" proposal 22nations: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Rumania, Russia, UK, USA. Abstentions 9 nations: Benin, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Korea, Venezuela.