China closed ranks with France, Germany and Russia on Thursday, vowing to block a new UN resolution authorizing war on Iraq. But Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan would not be drawn on whether Beijing would go as far as vetoing the resolution.
"It's a bit too early to raise this question at this point," Tang said at a press conference in Beijing. "Diplomacy at the Security Council is still going on. We are not at the end of the road towards a political solution."
He made clear China did not want war in any circumstances. "We must continue the inspections until we get to the bottom of this, we must make every effort to avoid war," he said.
"At the moment it is absolutely unnecessary to put aside UN resolution 1441 and table a new one at the Security Council" as Britain and the United States are planning. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
