On 29 January, the UN Security Council held an open meeting on Syrian humanitarian issue and listened to the report by Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock. The United States and the United Kingdom used the opportunity to criticize China for its voting position on a previous draft resolution on extending crossborder humanitarian relief mechanism in Syria. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the UN, refuted the accusations made against China.

Ambassador Zhang said that on the Syrian humanitarian issue, all parties should demonstrate a responsible and constructive attitude. The current humanitarian crisis is a tragedy for the Syrian people, and a tragedy for the international community. The US and the UK are abusing the platform of the Security Council to criticize China and others. China rejects their baseless accusations.

Ambassador Zhang said that the accusations by the US and the UK do not square with the facts. Due to the high sensitivity of the Syrian humanitarian issue, the Security Council members had had rounds of consultations, and consensus was difficult to reach. The Council had to put the issue to vote a few times. In order to avoid confrontation, China tried to mediate, playing a coordinating role in between to seek a solution. After rounds of consultations, a solution was found. It may not be the most satisfactory one to all parties, but it is the way to solve the problem under the circumstances. China is pleased that a solution has been reached and China has played its role which is recognized by the Council members. The accusations against China are totally unwarranted.

Ambassador Zhang said that accusing China on the Syrian humanitarian issue makes no sense. Given diverging views among Council members, the Council had to have rounds of consultations and put it to voting multiple times. All countries have the right to make decision based on their own positions. The US and the UK also voted against the alternative draft. Why don't they reflect on that? What makes the US and the UK believe that other countries must vote the way that they do? The era of colonialism is long gone. The time when others must follow the US and the UK is long gone.

Ambassador Zhang said that it is the US and the UK who should shoulder the responsibility on Syria. China is not engaged in regime change in Syria. China has never dropped bombs on Syrian civilians. China has not a single troop in Syria. China has not occupied any oil fields or wealth of Syria. The US and the UK have no right to accuse China. They are totally hypocritical in acting like humanitarian defenders, and the whole world knows that. We hope all parties will assume the responsibility, avoid politicizing the humanitarian issue, make real efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria and give human rights and humanitarianism back to the Syrian people. Abusing the Council to make groundless accusations does not help solve any problem, but only aggravates the atmosphere of confrontation. We look to relevant countries and their representatives to think deeply on it.

(UN PHOTO)