China calls on all parties concerned to play a constructive and responsible role in easing tensions in the Red Sea.
The United Nations Security Council voted to adopt Resolution 2722 on the 10th, strongly condemning Yemen's Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, made an explanatory statement after the vote, calling on all parties concerned to strictly abide by the Charter of the United Nations and international law and play a constructive and responsible role in easing tensions in the Red Sea.
Zhang Jun said that for some time, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked and seized merchant ships in the waters of the Red Sea, causing widespread concern in the international community. The Red Sea waters are an important channel for the transportation of goods and energy, and ensuring the safe and smooth flow of these waters is not only conducive to maintaining regional peace and stability, but also conducive to maintaining the stability and smoothness of the global chain and international order, which is in line with the common interests of the international community. Based on the above-mentioned position, China is open to further appropriate action by the Security Council to uphold the right of navigation of merchant ships of all countries in the Red Sea waters in accordance with international law. The Chinese side participated constructively in the consultations and put forward amendments on relevant issues. The sponsors have made improvements to the draft resolution, but some amendments have not been incorporated into the text, and the draft resolution remains ambiguous on a number of key issues, causing China to worry that it may not achieve the desired results or even bring negative consequences, leading to further escalation of tensions in the region. Therefore, China abstained in the voting.
Zhang Jun stressed that China calls on the Houthis to immediately stop attacking and harassing civilian vessels in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, and respect the freedom of navigation of all countries in the Red Sea. China calls on all parties concerned to strictly abide by the Charter of the United Nations and international law and play a constructive and responsible role in easing tensions in the Red Sea. No State may misinterpret or abuse the relevant provisions of this resolution in order to create new tensions in the waters of the Red Sea.
Zhang Jun said that it is important to note that the current tensions in the Red Sea are one of the manifestations of the spillover effects of the Gaza conflict. This is a fact that cannot be ignored. China has repeatedly stressed that the immediate ceasefire in Gaza brooks no delay, is the overriding premise of the present moment, and is the highest priority in international diplomatic efforts. China regrets that the resolution just adopted by the Security Council does not explicitly call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. China will continue to work with the Security Council and the international community to make unremitting efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, a de-escalation of tension in the Red Sea, a political settlement of the Yemen issue and peace and stability in the Middle East.
* |Xinhua News Agency.