China has openly criticized the United States for vetoing a widely supported United Nations resolution that would have recognized Palestine as a full member state. The U.S. veto on Thursday blocked the resolution, drawing disappointment and condemnation from China and other member nations.
“Today is a sad day,” declared Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the UN, following the Security Council vote on Palestine’s pursuit of full UN membership. Out of the 15 members of the Security Council, 12 voted in favor of the resolution. The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained, while the United States exercised its veto power against the measure.
“Because of the veto by the United States, the application by Palestine for full membership at the UN has been rejected, and the decades-long dream of the Palestinian people has been ruthlessly dashed,” Fu stated emphatically. He criticized the notion that Palestine lacks the capacity for self-governance and expressed China’s firm support for Palestinian statehood.
Fu highlighted the urgent need to revitalize the two-state solution as the fundamental path to resolving the Middle East conflict. “The two-state solution must be revitalized with strong determination, so that both Palestinians and Israelis can realize common security and both the Arab and Jewish peoples can achieve common development,” he asserted during an open debate on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.
This marks the second attempt by Palestine to attain full UN membership. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas first submitted an application in 2011, which failed due to insufficient support from Security Council members. In response to the U.S. veto, Abbas issued a statement condemning the action as “unfair, immoral, and unjustified,” arguing that it defies the international community’s strong support for Palestine’s full membership in the UN.
The U.S. veto has reignited discussions on the future of the Middle East peace process and the role of international actors in facilitating a lasting resolution. China’s outspoken criticism reflects growing international frustration and a call for renewed efforts to address the longstanding conflict.
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China slams U.S. veto of Palestine's pursuit of full UN membership
cgtn.com
