China Strongly Calls for Immediate Stop of Military Actions Against Iraq

People's Daily ^ | March 20, 2003

[Lake]

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 20, 2003

China Strongly Calls for Immediate Stop of Military Actions Against Iraq

China issued an urgent appeal for the immediate halt of military actions against Iraq and a return to the right track to seek a political solution to the Iraq issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Thursday.

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China strongly calls for immediate stop of military actions against Iraq, return to track of political solution to Iraq issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at the press conference Thursday.

The military actions against Iraq, carried out despite opposition from most governments and peoples across the world and bypassing the United Nations Security Council, violated the United Nations Charter and the basic norms of international law, he stressed.

China is very concerned about, and keeps a close watch on, this situation and Chinese government's position on Iraq issue accords with world people's strong aspiration for peace, according to the spokesman.

Kong Quan also said China will continue to call for world peace and will take actions with other countries to make the countries concerned stop their military actions in Iraq.

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China's concern lies in three aspects

Firstly, China is concerned about the military actions that relevant countries have launched against Iraq, disregarding the strong hope and appeal of most countries and their people for peace and bypassing the United Nations Security Council, Kong said at the regular press conference.

China is also concerned about the lives and property of the Iraqi people and the profound influence the military actions may bring to regional and global peace.

The spokesman said in resolving the Iraq issue, China keeps in mind that the unity and authority of the UN Security Council should be maintained and the seriousness of the Council's Resolution 1441 and other previous resolutions upheld.

Among the 190-plus members of the United Nations, the overwhelming majority stand for a political solution of the Iraq issue, and so do most members of the Security Council.

China evacuated all its nationals, including diplomats and journalists, from Iraq and closed its embassy in Bagdad two days ago.

Kong said that the safety of foreign citizens and embassies in China "will be ensured", as the Chinese government attaches great importance to the safety of foreign citizens, embassies and organizations in China.

On Japan's support of the military actions against Iraq, Kong said China hopes Japan would be "very prudent" in participating inany military actions overseas.

[Lake]

The Foreign Ministry of China issued a statement Thursday afternoon on the military actions against Iraq by the United States and some other countries.

Following is a translation of the full text of the statement:

On 20 March, bypassing the UN Security Council, the United States and some other countries launched military operations against Iraq. The Chinese government hereby expresses its serious concern.

The Chinese government has all along stood for a political settlement of the Iraq issue within the UN framework, urging the Iraqi government to fully and earnestly implement the relevant Security Council resolutions and calling for respect for Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity by the international community.

Security Council Resolution 1441 adopted unanimously last November is an important basis for a political settlement of the Iraq question. It is the widely-held view in the international community that the strict implementation of Resolution 1441 can deny Iraq weapons of mass destruction through peaceful means. The Chinese government has worked tirelessly with various countries to this end.

War will inevitably lead to humanitarian disasters and undermine the security, stability and development of the region and the world at large. People throughout the world detest war and want to see peace preserved. The Chinese government is always committed to peace and stability in the world. We stand for settlement of international disputes by political means and reject the use or threat of force in international affairs. The Chinese government strongly appeals the relevant countries to stop military actions and return to the right path of seeking a political solution to the Iraq question.

[dighton]

Dear China, please heed this ancient proverb.

[MEG33]

Dear China,deal with it!

[nmh]

"... China will continue to call for world peace and will take actions with other countries to make the countries concerned stop their military actions in Iraq."

Yeah, ... since when does Communist China have the gaul to make statements like this? China is an extreme human rights violator and while they don't quite have someone like saddam insane in place, those running China are NO better - complete with their forced abortion policy.

[Spruce]

[SShultz460]

I love STFU pics :p

[thinktwice]

What else should one expect from dictatorships, with governments that consider all subjects slaves?

[SShultz460]

:)

[Redleg Duke]

China who?

[wilmington2]

These people support peace so that "peaceful" muslims would continue to have resource to Iraq's WMD for delivery to the US. The Chinese want us to get hurt because it would strenghten them. There attitude that they can only be brought up by someone else being brought down is the same attitude as members of the Democrat Party.

[RnMomof7]

China is very concerned about, and keeps a close watch on, this situation and Chinese government's position on Iraq issue accords with world people's strong aspiration for peace, according to the spokesman.

Think Taiwan 

[Kadric]

Dear China,
We have received a report that seems to be from a person using the name of your country. We conclude that it must be an imposter due to their statements which are in direct contradiction to the action of your government. In example Tibet and your stance on Taiwan. As far as the matter concerning Property we seem to remember a United States aircraft that was rammed by a PRC jet fighter while over international air space then threatened with being shot down if it did not land with in your country. The crew of said A/C were then detained while the property of the USA was ransacked by representatives
of your country.
Sincerely
USA

[cynicom]

Where were these do good Chinese when they were trying to throw us into the ocean from Korea??????

[KDD]

People throughout the world detest war and want to see peace preserved. The Chinese government is always committed to peace and stability in the world.

On the one hand China says this...but what is that North Korean puppet on the other hand saying?

[Extremist]

BOYCOTT CHINA!!!!

(but first dump any Wal-Mart stock you might have)

[Williams]

China is a scumbag dictatorship and doesn't give a rat's behind about world peace. They are stamping their feet because they insist the USA should have nothing but troubles and failures.

"You'd better get out of here before somebody drops a house on YOUR head!"

[RightWhale]

Dear China,

I heard you have a new president, but I don't yet know his name. Best wishes to him and the new administration. We're a little busy right now. Get back to you in a few days.

America

[Lake]

>>what is that North Korean puppet on the other hand saying?

The N Korea wants talks with the US and China supports it. No UN involvement.