New York, 19 April 2024 (TDI): China expressed its disappointment with the US veto of a resolution in UN Security Council for full UN membership of Palestine in the United Nations, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Thursday.
A draft resolution that suggested “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations” be presented to the 193-member UN General Assembly was not approved by the Security Council.
The United States vetoed against the resolution, two abstentions came from the UK and Switzerland, and twelve votes were in favor.
In order for a draft resolution to be approved, the council needs to get votes from at least nine members and must include all the permanent members. China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States may veto it.
China’s permanent envoy to the UN, Fu Cong, remarked, “Today is a sad day.” The long-cherished ambition of the Palestinian people was dashed when the United States vetoed Palestine’s candidature to join the UN as a full member.
When the Palestinian mission requested for full UN membership for the first time in 2011, it was denied the requisite backing, failing to receive nine of the fifteen Security Council votes.
By garnering more than a two-thirds majority vote, the Palestinians effectively upgraded their status from “UN observer” to “non-member observer state” when they addressed the UN General Assembly in November 2012.
The Chinese Ambassador said that even if thirteen years is plenty of time, the pertinent nations continue to gripe that they shouldn’t move quickly. It is false to make such a claim. The time to grant Palestine full membership in the UN is now more important than ever.
Furthermore, he also highlighted that China cannot agree with the US claim that the Palestinian state does not have the ability to govern the country.
The Ambassador underlined that over the past 13 years, several changes have occurred in the Palestinian situation, the most significant of which is the ongoing growth of settlements in the West Bank.
Fu remarked that relevant nations ignored this, assumed a posture of compliance or even complicity, and are now doubting Palestine’s capacity to rule. This is completely gangster logic that confuses right and wrong.
He claimed it is “too much” to question if Palestine is “peace-loving” and if it satisfies the UN Charter’s membership requirements.
For the Palestinian people who have suffered from occupation, they are nothing short of rubbing salt into the wounds and are a great insult, Fu stated.
The establishment of an independent state is the indisputable national right of the Palestinian people, not subject to questioning or bargaining.
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According to him, giving Palestine full UN membership will afford it equal standing with Israel and facilitate the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, while Israel continues to reject the two-state solution.
All nations genuinely supportive of the two-state solution should endorse Palestine’s formal UN membership, he added.
Fu expressed confidence that the day will come when the State of Palestine will enjoy the same rights as other member states at the UN, and the two states of Palestine and Israel will be able to live side by side in peace.
Lastly, Ambassador Fu reiterated hope for a future in which the Palestinian and Israeli peoples can live in tranquilly and happiness, China’s commitment to carrying out its efforts and contributing positively to the realization of this goal.
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