On 25 October 2023, China vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution regarding the conflict between Israel and Palestine, pointing out that the draft departs from the spirit of previous UN resolutions.
“The draft departs from the spirit of previous UN resolutions and embeds the dangerous logic of clash of civilizations and the justification of war and use of force,” Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said in an explanation of the vote.
Following are the key points made by Ambassador Zhang Jun on why China vetoed the resolution:
- China is by no means indifferent to the sufferings of the people in Gaza. What China opposes is that the draft resolution selectively avoids referring to the root causes of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and fails to urge Israel to lift its full siege on Gaza and to rescind the evacuation order for northern Gaza. Such an evasive and ineffectual approach will only accelerate Gaza’s falling into an even greater humanitarian catastrophe.
- China is by no means denying Israel’s security concerns. On the contrary, China has always strongly advocated that equal attention should be paid to the security concerns and legitimate rights of both Israel and Palestine. What China opposes is that the draft resolution attempts to establish a new narrative on the Palestinian question, ignoring the fact that the Palestinian territory has been occupied for a long time and evading the fundamental issue of independent statehood for the Palestinian people. It is worth being vigilant that the draft departs from the spirit of previous UN resolutions and embeds the dangerous logic of the clash of civilizations and the justification of war and the use of force.
- China is by no means indifferent to acts that harm civilians. What China opposes is that the draft resolution does not call on the parties concerned to stop the indiscriminate and asymmetrical use of force, nor does it call for a thorough investigation into the heinous attacks such as the one on the Al-Ahli Hospital. Such selective application of international law and double standards will only push more innocent civilians to the brink of death.
In terms of the content, the draft is seriously out of balance and confuses right and wrong.
- China is by no means opposing the Council taking action. What China opposes is that the draft resolution is evasive on the most urgent issue of ending the hostility. It has never been able to call for an immediate ceasefire in unambiguous terms. If a Council resolution is ambiguous on the question of war and peace and life and death, it is not only irresponsible but also extremely dangerous.
In terms of the approach, the draft was introduced in haste and lacked the consensus it deserved.
In terms of the effect, the draft does not reflect the world’s strongest calls for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue.
“We also emphasize that the actions and decisions of the Council must respect facts and history, take the right direction, and show due responsibility and accountability, so as to ensure that they stand the test of morality and conscience,” he added. “We are ready to continue to work with members of the Council and the international community to play a constructive role in putting an end to the hostility, protecting civilians, averting further humanitarian catastrophes, and realizing a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine,” the envoy concluded.
