China has strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of Qatar on September 9.
Speaking at a September 11 meeting of the United Nations Security Council called by Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia, and held in the presence of the Prime Minister of Qatar as well as senior representatives of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ambassador Fu Cong described the attack as being, “in flagrant violation of Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and national security, international law and the UN Charter, and efforts to achieve peace. China resolutely opposes this and strongly condemns such an act.”
He added: “It is well known that Qatar, as an important mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, has made great efforts to promote the ceasefire and restore peace in Gaza, which has been highly appreciated by the international community. We note that on September 7, the US put forward a new ceasefire proposal and claimed that Israel had agreed to it. However, just two days later, a Hamas delegation discussing the ceasefire proposal was attacked by Israel. Such an act of bad faith, irresponsibility, and deliberate sabotage of the negotiations is indeed despicable.”
Referring to the United States in particular, Ambassador Fu stated: “We would like to advise these major countries, in the interest of regional peace and stability, to take a fair and responsible stance and play a constructive role along with the international community in promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and in easing tensions in the region.”
He also said that: “The Gaza conflict has been going on for almost two years, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe that is appalling and unprecedented in nature. During this period, we have witnessed over and over again the violation of international law and the undermining of the basic norms of international relations. The world should not return to the law of the jungle, and the Middle East should not remain in a state of perpetual war.”
The previous day, at the regular press conference given by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Spokesperson Lin Jian was asked by China-Arab TV for China’s response to the attack. He replied:
“China strongly condemns the attack yesterday in Doha, Qatar and firmly opposes Israel’s violation of Qatar’s territorial integrity and national security. We are deeply concerned that the attack could lead to further escalation in the region and disapprove of the actions taken by relevant parties to deliberately jeopardise Gaza ceasefire talks. Use of force will not bring peace to the Middle East. Dialogue and negotiation is the fundamental way out. It will soon be two years since the conflict broke out in Gaza. China strongly calls on relevant sides, especially Israel, to make an effort to end the fighting and resume talks, instead of the other way around.”
As a follow up, Global Times requested comment on reports that Israel gave the United States prior notice of its attack. Lin Jian replied:
“We are deeply concerned over relevant reports. Israel’s air strike on Hamas targets in Doha severely violated Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and national security and will escalate the tensions in the region. This has everything to do with the deeply tilted position of certain non-regional country on the Middle East issue. We urge certain major country to act in the interest of regional peace and stability, adopt a just and responsible stance, and work with the international community to play a constructive role for stopping the conflict and easing the tensions.”
A few days later, on Tuesday 16 September, the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council held an urgent debate regarding Israel’s attack, at the request of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Chen Xu, China’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, delivered a speech pointing out that Israel’s attack on Qatar constitutes a blatant violation of Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and national security, contravenes international law and the UN Charter and undermines peace efforts. Global Times reports:
“Chen emphasized that the abuse of force is not the solution to resolving issues. China calls on all relevant parties, especially Israel, to make more positive efforts to cease hostilities and resume negotiations, earnestly fulfill their obligations under international human rights law and humanitarian law, and respect the right to life of people in neighboring countries. China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire, ending the conflict, and easing regional tensions, Chen stated.”
The following article was originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Remarks on the Situation in the Middle East by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Emergency Briefing
President,
I thank Algeria, Pakistan, and Somalia for their initiative to hold this meeting. I welcome the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, His Excellency Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, and His Excellency Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President. I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing.
On September 9, Israel launched an attack on Doha, the capital of Qatar, in flagrant violation of Qatar’s territorial sovereignty and national security, international law and the UN Charter, and efforts to achieve peace. China resolutely opposes this and strongly condemns such an act.
It is well known that Qatar, as an important mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, has made great efforts to promote the ceasefire and restore peace in Gaza, which has been highly appreciated by the international community. We note that on September 7, the US put forward a new ceasefire proposal and claimed that Israel had agreed to it. However, just two days later, a Hamas delegation discussing the ceasefire proposal was attacked by Israel. Such an act of bad faith, irresponsibility, and deliberate sabotage of the negotiations is indeed despicable. China is deeply concerned that the attack could lead to further escalation of tensions in the region. We must point out that this incident is closely related to the long-standing differing positions of some non-regional countries regarding the Middle East issue. We would like to advise these major countries, in the interest of regional peace and stability, to take a fair and responsible stance and play a constructive role along with the international community in promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and in easing tensions in the region.
I would like to reiterate that military means and the indiscriminate use of force are not the way out of the problem, and that an immediate ceasefire is the right way to save lives and bring the hostages home. China strongly calls on all parties concerned, in particular Israel, to work harder to ease the fighting and resume negotiations, rather than the opposite. Israel must immediately cease all military operations in Gaza, fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as the occupying power, fully restore humanitarian access, and support the relief operations of the UN and other humanitarian agencies.
President,
The Gaza conflict has been going on for almost two years, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe that is appalling and unprecedented in nature. During this period, we have witnessed over and over again the violation of international law and the undermining of the basic norms of international relations. The world should not return to the law of the jungle, and the Middle East should not remain in a state of perpetual war.
As the primary organ for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council has the responsibility to safeguard international order and the rule of law and to promote regional peace and stability. The Council is now discussing a draft resolution on the humanitarian issue of Gaza. China supports the Council’s immediate actions to end the fighting in Gaza and to ease the humanitarian catastrophe, and we call on Council members and the international community to make joint efforts to this end.
Thank you, President.
I am from Vancouver,Canada and i want to say China had a chance to speak at the UN Security Council Emergency Briefing. There was something missing at this UN Security Council Emergency Briefing and i considers it a Snub to the Palestinians in Gaza who are Heroic People, all of them. Why wasn’t Hamas who represents the Palestinians in Gaza and is fighting against the Genocidal Israeli Soldiers in Gaza through the Al-Qassam Brigades who are doing an excellent Job with the weapons they got in getting rid of these Israeli Barbarians who murder Men,Women, Children, Babies, Doctors, Nurses in Gaza. Hamas Representatives should have been invited to the UN Security Council Emergency Briefing like they were in Qatar.
Another important thing i wanted to mention is : This is Not a Gaza
Conflict. It is A Gaza Genocide. The People on the Global Sumud Flotilla on its way to Gaza knows it is a Genocide. People from all over the world are on this World Armada to Gaza. They know its a Genocide and Not A Conflict. I supports the Heroic Al-Qassam Brigades. They are worth Supporting !