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Chinese Reactions to the US Strike on Iraq

The Chinese Government harshly condemned the US and British air strikes on Iraq this week. China’s UN Ambassador Qin Huasen was reportedly very angry when he emerged from a Security Council session Wednesday evening after learning the attacks had already begun. "There is absolutely no excuse or pretext to use force against Iraq," Qin said. The Chinese Ambassador noted that the US and British military strikes "violated the UN charter and the norms governing international law." He added, "the leader of UNSCOM has played a dishonorable role in this crisis" by conspiring to provide the United States and Britain with a pretext for their attacks.

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi expressed similar opposition to the military strikes on Iraq, and called on the United States and the United Kingdom to stop all military action against Iraq. He said:

"We are deeply shocked by the military attacks the United States has launched against Iraq. China stands firmly for peaceful settlement of international disputes and opposes use of force in international relations. The unilateral use of force against Iraq by the United States without the authorization of the Security Council runs counter to the UN Charter and the principles of international law. We condemn this act. We call on the United States to immediately cease all the military actions against Iraq."

Previously, China’s opposition on the use military force against Iraq was not expressed as harshly. In 1990, China abstained during the UN vote on UN Security Council Resolution 687, which provided justification for weapons inspections in Iraq. Once Operation Desert Storm began, China did not endorse the use of military force in Iraq. According to many sources, the Chinese government opposed the US-led military action in 1991 partially based on the fear that the United States would become an increasingly hegemonic power in world affairs. In contrast, many urban Chinese supported the US-led effort against Saddam.

The Chinese government’s opposition to the military strikes on Iraq is unsurprising, and consistent with its independent foreign policy of peace and its five principles of peaceful coexistence which together form the cornerstone of Beijing’s foreign policy. Both of these guidelines call for a mutual respect for sovereignty and nonagression among nations. The Chinese argue that US air strikes run counter to these two principles.

East Asia Nonproliferation Project, 17 December 1998.
© Center for Nonproliferation Studies,
Monterey Institute of International Studies.


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