The UN Security Council’s actions must not grant a license to the use of force, let alone further exacerbate tensions and add fuel to the fire, said Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, on Tuesday.
The Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution that “strongly encourages” states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the strait, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels.
Eleven members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, China and Russia voted against it, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.
In his explanation of China’s vote on the draft resolution, Fu said the conflict in Iran and its spillover effect continue to deal a heavy blow to regional and global peace and stability, hitting the global economy and causing increasingly widespread disruptions.
“The U.S. and Israel, without authorization from the Security Council and while negotiations between Iran and the U.S. were underway, launched military strikes against Iran,” he said.
“This is in clear violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations.”
