The Permanent Representative of China to the UN, Fu Cong, said on Thursday that China’s veto of the Security Council draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz helped prevent the escalation of the conflict between Iran on one side, and the United States and Israel on the other.
By exercising its veto on April 7 on the draft resolution presented by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf States, China upheld international fairness and justice, defended the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and prevented the conflict from spreading further. This veto also created favorable conditions for the conclusion of a temporary ceasefire and the launch of dialogue and negotiations, Mr. Fu said.
“China’s vote represents a responsible choice in favor of peace and the people of the region. It stands on the right side of history and will withstand the test of time,” he said during a UN General Assembly meeting dedicated to the use of the veto in the Security Council.
China attached great importance to the draft resolution and fully understood the main concerns of the Gulf States. At the same time, the Security Council’s actions should aim to defuse the situation. They must not serve to give an appearance of legitimacy to unauthorized military operations nor allow the use of force, and even less exacerbate tensions further by adding fuel to the fire, which would lead to an escalation of the conflict, the Chinese diplomat continued.
“China does not approve of Iran’s attacks on the Gulf States. It believes that the passage and security of a strait used for international navigation must be preserved. We call on Iran to take proactive measures to quickly restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr. Fu emphasized.
“At the same time, the increased military deployment and targeted blockade implemented by the United States constitute a dangerous and irresponsible initiative. The issue of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a consequence of the conflict in Iran. Only a complete ceasefire would be likely to create the fundamental conditions to ease the situation,” he said.
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China welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire agreement by the parties concerned and supports all efforts to end the conflict. The negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan mark a step in the right direction towards de-escalation, Mr. Fu said.
“The parties concerned should respect the ceasefire agreement, stick to the path of dialogue and peace talks, remain determined to resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means, and take concrete measures to defuse regional tensions,” he recommended.
The international community, he added, should continue to intensify its efforts to promote peace talks and unequivocally oppose any action that would compromise the ceasefire or worsen the confrontation.
All parties should also scrupulously respect the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and prevent the escalation of the situation in Lebanon from compromising the ceasefire agreement, Fu Cong said.
As a sincere friend and strategic partner of Middle Eastern countries, China closely follows the regional situation, maintaining an objective and impartial position, and has engaged in intensive mediation with all parties to actively promote peace talks, he recalled.
China is ready to continue facilitating de-escalation, promoting the improvement of relations among countries in the region, and playing a constructive role to ultimately achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, he concluded.
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Xinhua
