The Talk Show American

THE TALK SHOW AMERICAN: China Concerned U.N. Resolution Will Bring War With Iran

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

China Concerned U.N. Resolution Will Bring War With Iran

China expressed concern Monday that a proposed U.N. resolution to curb Iran's nuclear program could lead to a new war and it urged Britain and France to eliminate any reference to possible future sanctions or military action against Tehran.

Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya remained adamant in his opposition to putting the resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which sets out actions to respond to threats to international peace and security ranging from breaking diplomatic relations to arms embargoes, economic sanctions and the use of force.

Britain and France, who are sponsoring the resolution which is strongly backed by the United States, insist the resolution must be under Chapter 7 to make legally binding its demand that Tehran suspend uranium enrichment.

But Wang disagreed, saying China takes the view that all Security Council resolutions are legally binding and there is no need for a reference to Chapter 7 "because Chapter 7 is about enforcement measures."

"I believe it is time since the Iranians have not cooperated, have not complied, have not responded positively - so I think a Security Council resolution is needed," he said. "But I think that the resolution has to be (an) appropriate resolution."


Did Wang believe that a Chapter 7 resolution could lead the Security Council further down a path that led to the Iraq war?

"Yes, this is a concern," the Chinese ambassador replied.


U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said after an informal council meeting Saturday that the United States isn't prepared "to extend these negotiations endlessly" and wants a vote this week, with or without Chinese and Russian support.

"We are still working to achieve unanimity ... but we're prepared to go to a vote without it," he said.


Wang said China hopes "that the co-sponsors can redraft their resolution and come up with a draft that could have the support of the whole council."

"I hope that in the next two or three days we can come up with the language with the intention of the resolution that could unify the whole council," he said.


The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, declared in 2002 that Iran had been conducting secret nuclear activities for decades, though it has never said Tehran has a weapons program.

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