Why China's Support Makes News

29 August 2006

The Permanent members of the UN Security Council are United States, France, Britain, China and Russia. Although there are 10 additional rotating members, half who are due to give up their membership at the end of the year to make room for new members to serve the two year post, out of the entire membership, only the five permanent members have veto power. One of these members can veto the passage of a resolution deliberated and voted on by the entire Security Council. At this writing it seems that both Russia and China are opposed to an imposed solution to the Kosovo situation.
Sovereignty and territorial integrity as basis of international order
Belgrade, Aug 28, 2006 – Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica met today with Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, who confirmed China’s support to consistent respect of principles of countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is, according to him, the basis of international order in the world.
UN resolutions must be respected, he said and noted that conditions for equal position of all living in Kosovo-Metohija must be provided. Jiaxuan also noted that solution to the status of Serbia’s southern province must be found through a dialogue. Jiaxuan pointed out the necessity of direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina, repeating China’s position that talks must not be time restricted. Kostunica thanked Jiaxuan for China’s consistent position about the Kosovo-Metohija status issue, which should be addressed in accordance with standards of international law and based on compromise, with no imposed solutions. The two officials agreed that cooperation between Serbia and China is developing and should further develop in the forthcoming period.