In a move that underlined both its shameful and criminal support for the genocide of the Palestinian people, as well as its increasing isolation in the international community, on November 20, the United States yet again vetoed a resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The resolution was jointly presented by the current ten non-permanent UNSC members: Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of [South] Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Switzerland. Four of the five permanent members – Britain, China, France and Russia – also voted in favour of the resolution. It failed to pass due to the single vote of the United States, which, along with the other permanent members, holds the power of veto.
In a heartfelt and eloquent statement following the vote, Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong stated:
“The US single use of veto has shattered the Gazan people’s hope for survival and pushed them further into darkness and desperation… We cannot imagine how the vote today, as well as the Council’s failure to respond to the Gaza conflict over the past 13 months, can escape the harsh judgment of history.”
He continued:
“In the future, when looking back, people will find it hard to believe… Now, nearly 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza, and the US still do not hesitate to use its veto. 44,000. This is not just a number. Behind it could be a child, a nursing mother, or a breadwinner of a family. The loss of each and every one of them means eternal pain for the surviving relatives. People cannot help but ask: do Palestinian lives mean nothing? Can the deaths of 44,000 people not win even a little bit of sympathy from the United States?…
“In the future, when looking back, people will surely feel indignant. Israel has flagrantly breached every red line of international humanitarian law, with its actions causing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. But even as a famine is about to break out in Gaza, the United States always seems to be able to find justification to defend Israel… People never knew before how low one could stoop in terms of double standard. No wonder people feel angry.”
The next day, the UNSC held a briefing on Syria. Chinese Ambassador Geng Shuang noted:
“Over the past month, Israel has continued to carry out air strikes against Syria, causing heavy casualties. The actions by Israel gravely violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. China expresses its strong condemnation… China calls on the parties concerned to effectively respect the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Syria and immediately cease their illegal military actions against Syria.”
He continued: “The rising tensions in Lebanon recently have caused an influx of more than 500,000 refugees into Syria, further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation there. China applauds the positive actions taken by the UN agencies in their efforts to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to those in need. We welcome the Syrian Government’s decision to extend the authorisation for the relevant border crossings and commend the Government’s efforts in making proper arrangements to host refugees… China reiterates that the unilateral sanctions imposed against Syria by certain countries should be lifted without delay, and the illegal plundering of Syrian resources [principally of Syrian oil by the United States] should stop forthwith, in order to create favourable conditions for the Syrian economy to recover and develop.”
Geng Shuang concluded: “China firmly supports the Syrian Government in its efforts to fight terrorism. We call on the international community to reject double standard in accordance with international law and Council resolutions and join hands in the spirit of zero tolerance to support the Syrian Government in combating terrorist forces within its borders.”
Earlier, at a UNSC meeting prior to the vote on the Gaza resolution, held on November 18, Ambassador Fu Cong had stated:
“Over the past 13 months, the conflict in Gaza and the situation in the Middle East have continued to take the most prominent place on the Security Council’s agenda. We considered the issue frequently, yet the situation continued to worsen. We adopted resolutions requesting an immediate ceasefire, yet a ceasefire remains elusive to this day. Instead, the fighting has only intensified. We unanimously requested the protection of civilians, yet we saw that international humanitarian law seemed to exist in name only, with tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians deprived of their lives in collective punishment. Time and again, we requested expanding humanitarian assistance, yet Israel repeatedly cut off humanitarian supplies and attacked humanitarian assistance personnel. We made countless warnings against the spillover of the conflict, yet we saw reckless adventurism and the constantly spreading flames of war. We have to painfully admit that on the Palestinian question, the Security Council has failed to effectively discharge its duties and has failed to respond to the expectations of the international community, which one can say is most disappointing.
“However, it needs to be pointed out that the unsatisfactory performance of the Security Council is not caused by differences between some countries and some others, but rather due to the fact that one permanent member has been on the opposite side of the international community. Had it not been for the repeated exercise of the veto by the US or its claim that Security Council resolutions are not binding, the Security Council would not have been so weak and incompetent. Had it not been for the continued provision of weapons by the US, the war would not have lasted for so long and would not have caused such massive destruction.”
China’s representative further expressed “grave concerns over reports that Israel is seeking to station its military in Gaza for the long term, build its so-called buffer zone, and even rebuild settlements. We reiterate that any acts to change the population or territory of Gaza are unacceptable. The future governance arrangement for Gaza should be determined independently by the Palestinian people. The illegal settlements in the West Bank erode the foundation for establishing an independent state of Palestine. The dangerous attempts to annex the West Bank will completely bury the prospects of peace in the Middle East. The international community must firmly reject them.”
An article by columnist Alex Lo, published in the South China Morning Post on November 22, carried the subtitle, “Disgraceful veto of draft ceasefire resolution by US coincides with arrest warrants by International Criminal Court for Israeli pair [Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Gallant] on war crimes.”
Noting that while the two may never face justice, Alex Lo wrote that, “the arrest warrants are still enormously significant because they not only repudiate all the lies and propaganda spread by Israel but also implicate the full complicity of the United States in arming Israel to commit suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity. That complicity extends to other pro-Israeli Western governments that have also provided weapons and/or diplomatic cover for Israel.”
He continued: “The country that has accused China of committing a non-existent genocide against its own Muslim population is actually actively arming Israel for committing what many international bodies, and law and human rights experts, consider clear-cut war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. But, of course, Washington would do that and will continue to do it under the incoming administration of Donald Trump, who has lined up a fanatically pro-Israeli cabinet.”
He concluded: “The wholly admirable and courageous independent Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to bar about US$20 billion in US arms sales to Israel. It was unceremoniously blocked in the US Senate this week. The West began its centuries-old ascent by committing genocides around the world. Its decline is now marked by one more.”
On November 21, the Palestine Chronicle summarised other reactions to the US veto.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: “We do not need to be lectured by the United States on hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is what they exhibit every day in different conflicts.”
He directly addressed US Deputy Envoy Robert Wood, who had cast the veto, saying, “You today have definitively shown that you are fully responsible for the death of tens of thousands of innocent civilians.”
Guyana’s Ambassador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, called the ongoing “annihilation of the Palestinian people” a “major stain on our collective human conscience.”
Algeria’s Ambassador, Amar Bendjama, said the US veto sent a clear message to Israel: “You may continue your genocide, you may continue your collective punishment of the Palestinian people with complete impunity.”
Even the representatives of France and Britain expressed their regret at the US veto.
Various sections of the Palestinian resistance also reacted to the US veto, with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) describing it as, “a new moral downfall for the US administration,” and linking it to the USA’s historical foundations in genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations.
Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Fu Cong on the UN Security Council Draft Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire
Nov. 20 (Chinese Mission to the UN) — President,
China is very disappointed with the result of today’s vote. Guyana, Algeria, and other E10 members of the Council demonstrated maximum sincerity and constructiveness during the consultation of the draft resolution. The US single use of veto has shattered the Gazan people’s hope for survival and pushed them further into darkness and desperation.
During the Council’s debate on Monday, I said that every moment will be recorded in history and will be judged by history. We cannot imagine how the vote today, as well as the Council’s failure to respond to the Gaza conflict over the past 13 months, can escape the harsh judgment of history.
In the future, when looking back, people will find it hard to believe. When the US cast its first veto on October 18 last year, nearly 3,000 civilians had been killed in Gaza. By the time the US cast its second veto, 17,000 people had been killed as a result of Israeli bombardment. With its continued use of veto, when the US cast its fifth veto on April 18 this year, the death toll in Gaza had surged to 34,000. Now, nearly 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza, and the US still do not hesitate to use its veto. 44,000. This is not just a number. Behind it could be a child, a nursing mother, or a breadwinner of a family. The loss of each and every one of them means eternal pain for the surviving relatives. People cannot help but ask: do Palestinian lives mean nothing? Can the deaths of 44,000 people not win even a little bit of sympathy from the United States? How many more people have to die to wake them up from pretending asleep?
In the future, when looking back, people will find it hard to understand. The Security Council is mandated under the UN charter to shoulder the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is incomprehensible that for the past year or so, the United States has been so insistent in rendering the Council incapable of playing its role, leading to its paralysis. The US has claimed to be conducting parallel diplomatic efforts and has repeatedly promised that progress would be made soon in the negotiations. It is incomprehensible that to date, the so-called diplomatic negotiations have been going in circles. Why is Israel allowed to continue its military operations while constantly putting forth new conditions for negotiations?
In the future, when looking back, people will surely feel indignant. Israel has flagrantly breached every red line of international humanitarian law, with its actions causing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. But even as a famine is about to break out in Gaza, the United States always seems to be able to find justification to defend Israel. This represents a distortion and selective disregard of the application of international humanitarian law. People never knew before how low one could stoop in terms of double standard. No wonder people feel angry. Their indignation also stems from the fact that the continued supply of weapons from the US has become a decisive factor for the war lasting so long, causing so many casualties and so much destruction.
President,
The US Representative called for the release of hostages in their earlier statement. Our position has been very clear from the beginning. All hostages must be released. An immediate and unconditional ceasefire must be established. Both are important. There should be no preconditions attached, and the two things should not be linked to each other. Facts have shown that Israel’s military operations in Gaza have long exceeded the scope of rescuing hostages. Insistence on setting preconditions for a ceasefire is tantamount to giving the green light to prolong the war and condone the continued killing.
President,
The repeated use of veto by the United States has reduced the authority of the Security Council and international law to an all-time low. But it is never too late to recognize and correct the mistakes. We call on the US to take its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Council seriously, stop being passive and evasive, and stop the deliberate procrastination. Instead, it should act with a sense of responsibility to history, and support the Council in taking all necessary actions to achieve an immediate ceasefire, save lives, and restore peace.
Thank you, President.
Remarks by Ambassador Geng Shuang at the UN Security Council Briefing on Syria
Nov. 21 (Chinese Mission to the UN) — President,
I wish to thank Deputy Special Envoy Najat Rochdi and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings.
Over the past month, Israel has continued to carry out air strikes against Syria, causing heavy casualties. The actions by Israel gravely violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. China expresses its strong condemnation. Such actions must cease immediately. The protracted conflict in Gaza and the escalating situations in Lebanon have plunged the entire region into uncertainty and instability. In this context, the international community must work together to effectively prevent the further growth and spread of conflict, as it will lead to even greater disasters. China calls on the parties concerned to effectively respect the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Syria and immediately cease their illegal military actions against Syria. Foreign forces must end their illegal military presence in Syria as soon as possible.
The rising tensions in Lebanon recently have caused an influx of more than 500,000 refugees into Syria, further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation there. China applauds the positive actions taken by the UN agencies in their efforts to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to those in need. We welcome the Syrian Government’s decision to extend the authorization for the relevant border crossings and commend the Government’s efforts in making proper arrangements to host refugees. We call on the member states to respond positively to the urgent appeals by humanitarian agencies such as UNHCR, scale up humanitarian input for Syria, honor the donor commitments in a timely manner, and ensure the smooth implementation of humanitarian projects in Syria, so as to help improve the humanitarian situation in the country. China reiterates that the unilateral sanctions imposed against Syria by certain countries should be lifted without delay, and the illegal plundering of Syrian resources should stop forthwith, in order to create favorable conditions for the Syrian economy to recover and develop.
President,
China firmly supports the general direction of a political solution to the Syrian issue and the comprehensive political process in accordance with the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle. We welcome the efforts by Special Envoy Geir Pedersen in line with this principle. We look forward to the coordination among various existing dialogue mechanisms to render assistance to the political solution on the basis of communication and consultation with the Syrian Government. China firmly supports the Syrian Government in its efforts to fight terrorism. We call on the international community to reject double standard in accordance with international law and Council resolutions and join hands in the spirit of zero tolerance to support the Syrian Government in combating terrorist forces within its borders.
Thank you, President.
Remarks by Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN Security Council Ministerial-level Briefing on the Middle East
Nov. 18 (Chinese Mission to the UN) — President,
I thank Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for the briefing.
Over the past 13 months, the conflict in Gaza and the situation in the Middle East have continued to take the most prominent place on the Security Council’s agenda. We considered the issue frequently, yet the situation continued to worsen. We adopted resolutions requesting an immediate ceasefire, yet a ceasefire remains elusive to this day. Instead, the fighting has only intensified. We unanimously requested the protection of civilians, yet we saw that international humanitarian law seemed to exist in name only, with tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians deprived of their lives in collective punishment. Time and again, we requested expanding humanitarian assistance, yet Israel repeatedly cut off humanitarian supplies and attacked humanitarian assistance personnel. We made countless warnings against the spillover of the conflict, yet we saw reckless adventurism and the constantly spreading flames of war. We have to painfully admit that on the Palestinian question, the Security Council has failed to effectively discharge its duties, and has failed to respond to the expectations of the international community, which one can say is most disappointing.
However, it needs to be pointed out that the unsatisfactory performance of the Security Council is not caused by differences between some countries and some others, but rather due to the fact that one permanent member has been on the opposite side of the international community. Had it not been for the repeated exercise of the veto by the US or its claim that Security Council resolutions are not binding, the Security Council would not have been so weak and incompetent. Had it not been for the continued provision of weapons by the US, the war would not have lasted for so long, and would not have caused such massive destruction.
The current situation in the Middle East remains extremely precarious. It is unacceptable for the Security Council to continue to remain at a standstill and do nothing. We call upon all members to stand united and support the Council in taking strong actions.
First, an unconditional and immediate ceasefire must be imposed. A ceasefire is the prerequisite for saving lives and restoring peace. Linking the issue of a ceasefire with other issues and even setting preconditions for a ceasefire is essentially giving a green light to prolong the war and condoning the continued killing. The Security Council must unequivocally request an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. Israel should also let go of its obsession with the use of force and stop violations against other countries, including Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
Second, humanitarian assistance must be expanded. Gaza is undergoing an unprecedented and man-made humanitarian disaster. This is an undeniable fact and the causes are unarguable. Israel, as the occupying power, must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, effectively remove all obstacles to humanitarian access, ensure the orderly distribution of supplies across the whole of Gaza, and guarantee the safety of humanitarian agencies and their personnel. We urge Israel to stop suppressing UNRWA and stop implementing and revoke the bills against the Agency.
Third, unilateral actions in violation of international law must be stopped. International law and relevant Security Council resolutions provide the fundamental guidance for settling the Palestinian question. We express grave concerns over reports that Israel is seeking to station its military in Gaza for the long term, build its so-called buffer zone, and even rebuild settlements. We reiterate that any acts to change the population or territory of Gaza are unacceptable. The future governance arrangement for Gaza should be determined independently by the Palestinian people. The illegal settlements in the West Bank erode the foundation for establishing an independent state of Palestine. The dangerous attempts to annex the West Bank will completely bury the prospects of peace in the Middle East. The international community must firmly reject them.
Fourth, the two-State solution must be revitalized. The two-State solution is the only viable way out for the Palestinian question. Now, more than ever, revitalizing the two-State solution requires the guarantee of the international community. China welcomes the efforts by Saudi Arabia, the EU, Norway, and others to revitalize the two-State solution. We support convening a more broad-based, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference, with the aim of formulating the timetable and roadmap for implementing the two-State solution. We expect progress to be made at the emergency special session of the GA regarding the request for the international peace conference on implementing the two-State solution.
President,
The E10 have already proposed a draft resolution requesting an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This represents a fresh round of efforts by the Security Council to stop the war and restore peace. China supports the prompt vote on and adoption of the resolution by the Council.
I wish to conclude by pointing out that every moment leaves its record in history. At present, any delay and obstruction of the Security Council’s actions will ultimately face the judgment of history.
Thank you, President.
