BEIJING, Feb. 17 -- China on Wednesday urged the top UN human rights official to look at the development of human rights in the country fairly and objectively.

"China is a country under the rule of law and everyone is equal in front of law," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily press briefing in response to a statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday, who urged China to release human rights lawyers arrested recently.

"Whoever breaks the law will be punished accordingly," Hong said, urging the UN human rights chief to respect China's judicial sovereignty.

The groundless criticism by the commissioner of China's domestic affairs is "neither fair nor professional," and China will not accept it, said the spokesman.