China steps up opposition to hasty UN reform
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-16 14:05

China has stepped up its opposition to any hasty expansion of the United Nations Security Council, and vowed to fight for increased representation by developing countries.

State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan [AFP]

State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, the former foreign minister, said the purpose of any reform must be to strengthen rather than weaken the United Nations.

"Any plan must take the opinion of most countries as a basis and have broad consensus, which is the most pure manifestation of democracy in international relations," he said at a meeting of the Chinese-Arab Cooperation Forum here.

"It will inevitably intensify the conflict among many countries if an immature plan is put to the vote or adopted.

"The United Nations will find it difficult to operate normally with its authority and influence severely weakened. We would not like to see such a result and that should be avoided through strenuous efforts."

The Security Council currently has five members with the right to veto -- China, the United States, France, Britain and Russia -- as well as 10 rotating non-permanent members without veto power.

Only the General Assembly can change the makeup of the council, by a two-thirds vote of the 191 member states, although any of the five permanent members could block the reform simply by withholding its approval.

China has long advocated multilateralism and a stronger representation of developing countries in the Security Council and Tang, cited by Xinhua news agency, repeated this stance.

"That is why the expansion of the council was put on the agenda," he said.

"It is the foundation as well as the direction for the council reform to give a say to more developing countries in important international affairs.

"It is also a principle we must abide by, and China can't accept a result that goes against the principle."

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