China’s UN envoy accuses US of ‘once again abusing’ veto power over Gaza

BEIJING – China slammed the US for blocking a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, signalling Beijing’s frustration with the system just as it seeks to reshape global governance.

The Chinese state media on Sept 19 reported comments by Mr Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the UN, who accused the US of “once again abusing its veto power”.

“The Security Council has made repeated efforts, only to be forcibly blocked by the US time and again,” Mr Fu said, in a clip shared widely by state media outlets on Weibo.

“How much longer must we wait before the Security Council can fulfil its responsibilities?”

The resolution had the backing of all 14 other members of the Council. The document described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and appealed to Israel to remove restrictions on aid.

The vote on Sept 18 marks the sixth veto that the US has used to block a resolution on Gaza since 2023.

Mr Fu said that Washington’s stance has shielded Israel and prevented the UN from responding effectively to what he called an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster”. He urged the US to live up to its responsibilities as a permanent Council member and uphold the authority of the UN.

His remarks topped Weibo’s trending list on the morning of Sept 19 with nearly 50 million views. Beijing News, a local newspaper, noted that the vote took place during the Council’s 10,000th meeting.

The latest clash underscores Beijing’s dissatisfaction with the inefficiency of the UN system. That could be one of the reasons Chinese President Xi recently unveiled his “Global Governance Initiative”, which he pitched as a way to build a fairer international order, according to analysts including Dr Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University and a former diplomat.

Chinese officials have repeatedly said that Beijing is not seeking to overturn the existing global order but to strengthen it. Still, when Mr Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in September, he said his plan is about “building a more equitable and fair” framework together with “like-minded countries”.

Beijing has also been stepping up its criticism of Israel over the war in Gaza. Earlier this week, prominent Chinese scholar Yan Xuetong was filmed confronting an Israeli military representative, who rejected the claim that more than 70,000 civilians were killed by Israel in Gaza.

“The fact is not decided by you,” Dr Yan said. “The fact is decided by the international community.” BLOOMBERG