Posted on 03/19/2003 11:53:13 PM PST by kattracks
BEIJING March 20 —China demanded Thursday that military action against Iraq stop immediately and asserted that the initial attack by the United States was "violating the norms of international behavior."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said the beginning of the attack on Iraq by the U.S.-led military force took place "in disregard for the oppposition of the international community."
"Military action against Iraq is violating the norms of international behavior," Kong said at a regular news briefing. "We express regret and disappointment."
He said China continues to maintain that "the Iraq question can be solved peacefully."
China has long said it opposes war in Iraq and that the problem of its weapons should be dealt with by the U.N. Security Council. China is a permanent member of the Security Council and holds veto power there.
"We urge the relevant countries to stop using force, to stop military action," Kong said. "The Iraqi question must return to the track of political settlement within the U.N. framework."
He didn't immediately say what, if anything, China might do in protest.
"As to the next step, the Chinese government will continue its efforts toward peace," he said. He also appealed to other countries to step in.
"We are deeply concerned about the loss of lives and property that might follow. We are also worried about its impact on peace and the development of the world."
Kong never mentioned the words "United States" and referred only to "the relevant countries" in his responses.
China closed its embassy in Iraq and withdrew all personnel Tuesday, Kong said. "As far as we know, there are no Chinese or, at least, no Chinese government people in Iraq," he said.
Asked if any attack on Iraq represented part of the fight against terrorism, Kong would say only that it was a "violation of the U.N. charter and the norms of international law."
He said China, "in a very short time," would be talking to other countries about what to do next.
Earlier Thursday, security cordons tightened around foreign diplomatic installations in China, including the U.S. and Iraqi embassies, as American military action in Iraq began.
State television ran unprecedented live coverage of the first U.S. and British attack as it unfolded, signaling intense concern among Beijing's new leaders.
The initial action in Iraq which took place Thursday morning in Beijing presented the government of President Hu Jintao, installed last weekend in a major leadership change, with an immediate foreign policy crisis.
Security in Beijing's diplomatic district has been tightened this week, with extra guards posted outside embassies and streets closed to vehicle traffic. Paramilitary police demanded identification and barred taxis from entering compounds that house diplomats and foreign journalists.
On Thursday morning, barricades went up in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Beijing. Those Chinese passing through were forced by armed paramilitary officers to show identification. The American and Iraqi embassies are just three blocks away from each other in Beijing.
On the Internet, comment began appearing immediately on Sohu.com, one popular Chinese Web site. Such sites are a rare chance for Chinese to express themselves publicly, but are closely monitored by censors who enforce government regulations remove comments that are considered too critical.
"This world is so unfair," a user identified as winer852 said on Sohu.com. "What does American want to prove? Do they want to prove their strength by bullying the weaker?"
From: U.S. Senate Minority Leader: Tom Daschle is deeply saddened and feels your pain.
whiner852, Can you spell L-I-B-E-R-A-T-I-O-N in Chinese?
Shut up and keep making billions of cheap trinkets.
You've found your role in the world. Excel in it.
Sounds like the best products are still made in the USA. You can only buy the best if you are with us!
Um, maybe we might accidentally, inadvertantly and not on purpose drop something on the Chinese Embassy in Iraq?
Or better yet, we can stop the attack. Then start it again..
What have *they* been selling the Iwaqis, of which they're afraid we're going to find the pulverized remains?
Indonesia and Germany say they are going to call a special emergency session of the UN....
We should start a pool on how many times U.N. diplomatozoids will say "Relevant" in the aftermath of this...
"We urge the relevant countries to stop using force, to stop military action,"
--Boot Hill
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