On September 18, the United States yet again abused its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to block a call for a ceasefire and an end to the carnage and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
In this regard, Chinese Ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong has made three strong statements decrying the actions of the United States and Israel and in support of the just and inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people.
Speaking at a United Nations General Assembly debate on the matter, held on October 1, he said:
“Time and again, the Security Council has sought to take actions, only to be forcefully blocked by the United States again and again. On September 18, the United States once again vetoed a Security Council draft resolution on Gaza. China expresses its deep disappointment and regret over this. If it were not for the United States’ repeated abuse of the veto, the Security Council’s response to the Gaza crisis would not have been so inadequate. If it were not for the United States’ shielding of Israel, Council resolutions and international law would not have been so flagrantly violated.”
He outlined three imperatives as follows:
- A lasting ceasefire in Gaza must be achieved immediately. History has repeatedly demonstrated that military means is not the way out, and that one’s own security cannot be built on the insecurity of others.
- The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must be alleviated. Under the man-made blockade, Gaza is witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. China reiterates that the weaponisation of humanitarian aid is unacceptable, the militarisation of aid distribution mechanism is unacceptable, and attacks on aid-seeking civilians and humanitarian workers are unacceptable.
- The two-State solution must be implemented. Both Gaza and the West Bank are inseparable parts of the Palestinian territory. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangements must adhere to the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people.
At a UN Security Council briefing on September 29, he noted: “Last week, at the general debate of the 80th UN General Assembly, the high-level meeting on the implementation of the two-State solution, and other major events, the international community once again issued a powerful call for an immediate end to the killings, for saving lives, and for achieving peace. This is not merely the most fundamental requirement for upholding fairness and justice. More importantly, it is the bare minimum required by human morality and conscience.
“After nearly two years of violence, siege, and blockade, over 66,000 Gazans have lost their lives, and more than two million are struggling in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. At present, as Israel presses ahead with its plan to take over the Gaza City, countless innocent civilians are dying every single day. China reiterates that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable, weaponising humanitarian supplies is unacceptable, and violating international law and international humanitarian law is equally unacceptable.”
He also spoke about the deteriorating situation on the West Bank: “Israel continues to expand its settlement policy, condone settler violence, and squeeze the living space of the Palestinian people, thus eroding the very foundation of the two-State solution. The dangerous attempt to annex the West Bank will completely bury the prospect of the two-State solution, directly threatening stability across the Middle East, and must therefore be met with unequivocal resistance and stern rejection from the international community.”
He added: “While Israel has enjoyed statehood for nearly 80 years, the Palestinian people still have nowhere to call home. This situation is simply unacceptable. Independent statehood is the inalienable national right of the Palestinian people, not some optional charity or reward. Gaza and the West Bank are the homeland of the Palestinian people, an integral part of the Palestinian territory, and must not become a sacrifice of international politics. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangement must respect the will of the Palestinian people and safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation.”
On September 18, in his explanatory remarks immediately after the vote, he said that, time and again, the Security Council has attempted to take actions, only to be forcefully blocked by the United States, and posed three questions:
- How many more innocent lives must be lost before a ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza? In October 2023, when the US cast its first veto on the draft resolution on Gaza, the conflict back then had claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Today, with the US again abusing its veto power, the death toll in Gaza has soared to over 65,000. Force cannot win peace, nor can violence bring security. Prolonging the fighting will only lead to more death and hatred.
- How many more tragedies will it take before humanitarian aid can flow unimpeded? Under the extreme blockade, famine has already set in in Gaza. Disease is spreading rapidly. The militarised aid distribution mechanism run by the US and Israel obstructs the UN and other humanitarian agencies from delivering aid. Instead of improving the humanitarian situation, this mechanism has claimed the lives of a large number of aid-seeking civilians. The weaponisation of humanitarian aid is unacceptable. The violation of international humanitarian law is unacceptable.
- How much longer do we have to wait before the Security Council fulfills its responsibilities? This Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security and has long reached an overwhelming consensus on issues such as ceasefire and humanitarian affairs in Gaza. Yet it is no other than the US’ passive and obstructive approach to Council actions and its stubborn shielding of violations of Council resolutions that have rendered this Council ineffective in addressing the Gaza issue.
The following articles were originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Remarks on the Use of Veto by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN General Assembly Debate
October 1 (China UN Mission) – President,
Nearly two years into the conflict in Gaza, the fighting has resulted in appalling civilian casualties and a humanitarian catastrophe, undermining the bottom line of human conscience and international rule of law. The international community has long issued an overwhelming call for a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. Time and again, the Security Council has sought to take actions, only to be forcefully blocked by the United States again and again. On September 18, the United States once again vetoed a Security Council draft resolution on Gaza. China expresses its deep disappointment and regret over this. If it were not for the United States’ repeated abuse of the veto, the Security Council’s response to the Gaza crisis would not have been so inadequate. If it were not for the United States’ shielding of Israel, Council resolutions and international law would not have been so flagrantly violated.
President,
The human tragedy in Gaza cannot be allowed to continue. China welcomes and supports all efforts that are conducive to easing tensions, and calls on the international community to stay united and take urgent actions to restore peace.
First, a lasting ceasefire in Gaza must be achieved immediately. History has repeatedly demonstrated that military means is not the way out, and that one’s own security cannot be built on the insecurity of others. The conflict has already claimed the lives of more than 66,000 Gazans, and prolonging the conflict will only lead to more deaths and hatred. China urges Israel to immediately cease all military operations in Gaza and immediately halt its dangerous plan to take over the Gaza City.
Second, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must be alleviated. Under the man-made blockade, Gaza is witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. China reiterates that the weaponization of humanitarian aid is unacceptable, the militarization of aid distribution mechanism is unacceptable, and attacks on aid-seeking civilians and humanitarian workers are unacceptable. Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as the occupying power, fully restore humanitarian access, and support the work of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.
Third, the two-State solution must be implemented. The two-State solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question. Both Gaza and the West Bank are inseparable parts of the Palestinian territory. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangements must adhere to the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine and respect the will of the Palestinian people. The international community should pool greater efforts and take concrete and irreversible actions to implement the two-State solution, while firmly rejecting any unilateral actions that erode its foundation.
China stands ready to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to put an end to the hostilities in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-State solution, and ultimately achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.
Thank you. President.
Remarks on the Palestinian Question by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Briefing
September 29 (China UN Mission) – President,
I thank Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov for his briefing.
Last week, at the general debate of the 80th UN General Assembly, the high-level meeting on the implementation of the two-State solution, and other major events, the international community once again issued a powerful call for an immediate end to the killings, for saving lives, and for achieving peace. This is not merely the most fundamental requirement for upholding fairness and justice. More importantly, it is the bare minimum required by human morality and conscience. Given the urgency at hand, the international community must unite as one, forge consensus, and uphold objectivity and impartiality to make greater efforts toward resolving the question of Palestine.
We must act with utmost urgency to end the conflict in Gaza. After nearly two years of violence, siege, and blockade, over 66,000 Gazans have lost their lives, and more than 2 million are struggling in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. At present, as Israel presses ahead with its plan to take over the Gaza City, countless innocent civilians are dying every single day. China reiterates that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable, weaponizing humanitarian supplies is unacceptable, and violating international law and international humanitarian law is equally unacceptable. We urge Israel to immediately halt all military operations in Gaza, effectively fulfill its obligations as an occupying power, ensure the scaled-up, rapid, and safe entry of humanitarian aid, and support the UN and other humanitarian agencies in their aid delivery. Moreover, the country with special influence on Israel must assume its corresponding responsibilities in earnest.
We must take robust actions to deescalate tensions in the West Bank. Israel continues to expand its settlement policy, condone settler violence, and squeeze the living space of the Palestinian people, thus eroding the very foundation of the two-State solution. The dangerous attempt to annex the West Bank will completely bury the prospect of the two-State solution, directly threatening stability across the Middle East, and must therefore be met with unequivocal resistance and stern rejection from the international community. We urge Israel to immediately stop its settlement activities, contain settler violence, cease encroachment on West Bank territories, and stop undermining the governance foundation of the Palestinian National Authority.
We must revitalize the two-State solution with a firm resolve. Implementing the two-State solution is the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question. While Israel has enjoyed statehood for nearly 80 years, the Palestinian people still have nowhere to call home. This situation is simply unacceptable. Independent statehood is the inalienable national right of the Palestinian people, not some optional charity or reward. Gaza and the West Bank are the homeland of the Palestinian people, an integral part of the Palestinian territory, and must not become a sacrifice of international politics. Any post-war governance and reconstruction arrangement must respect the will of the Palestinian people and safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation. A succession of Western countries has recently announced their recognition of the State of Palestine. The international community should maintain this positive momentum, jointly oppose any unilateral moves that sabotage the foundation of the two-State solution, strive for a practical, feasible path towards the two-State solution, and support Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations.
Together with the international community, China stands ready to push for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-State solution, and advance a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, to make greater contributions to the peace and stability in the Middle East.
I thank you, President.
Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Fu Cong on the UN Security Council Draft Resolution on Gaza
September 19 (China UN Mission) – President,
China is deeply disappointed by the result of today’s vote.
The conflict in Gaza has been dragging on for nearly two years, causing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Time and again, the Security Council has attempted to take actions, only to be forcefully blocked by the United States. We cannot help but ask:
How many more innocent lives must be lost before a ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza? In October 2023, when the US cast its first veto on the draft resolution on Gaza, the conflict back then had claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Today, with the US again abusing its veto power, the death toll in Gaza has soared to over 65,000. Force cannot win peace, nor can violence bring security. Prolonging the fighting will only lead to more death and hatred. Israel must immediately cease its military operations in Gaza and halt any dangerous actions that escalate tensions. We hope that the United States can align itself with the international community, work towards the same goal, uphold a just and responsible stance, and make concrete and active efforts to secure a ceasefire.
How many more tragedies will it take before humanitarian aid can flow unimpeded? Under the extreme blockade, famine has already set in in Gaza. Disease is spreading rapidly. The militarized aid distribution mechanism run by the US and Israel obstructs the UN and other humanitarian agencies from delivering aid. Instead of improving the humanitarian situation, this mechanism has claimed the lives of a large number of aid-seeking civilians. The weaponization of humanitarian aid is unacceptable. The violation of international humanitarian law is unacceptable. Israel must fulfill its obligations as the occupying power under international humanitarian law by lifting access restrictions on humanitarian aid and supporting the UN in providing assistance in line with humanitarian principles.
How much longer do we have to wait before the Security Council fulfills its responsibilities? This Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and has long reached an overwhelming consensus on issues such as ceasefire and humanitarian affairs in Gaza. Yet it is no other than the US’ passive and obstructive approach to Council actions and its stubborn shielding of violations of Council resolutions that have rendered this Council ineffective in addressing the Gaza issue. As a permanent member of the Council, the US should take its responsibility seriously, support the Council in effectively fulfilling its mandate, and uphold the role and authority of the UN instead of doing the opposite.
President,
The international community’s efforts to uphold justice and fairness will not stop. Next week, the 80th session of the UN General Assembly will convene the general debate and high-level conference on the implementation of the two-State solution. We hope that the relevant country can heed the strong calls of the international community and make the right decision, demonstrating a sense of responsibility to life and to history. China will continue to work with the international community to end the fighting in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, and advance the implementation of the two-State solution, with a view to ultimately achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
Thank you, President.
