Source: China.org.cnQu Xing - President of the China Institute of International Studies
In February, China voted twice against a
UN draft resolution which strongly condemned the Syrian President
Bashar Assad's cruel crackdown on domestic uprising and calls for his
resignation.
This action is a comprehensive judgment
that considers the basic principles of the Charter of the United
Nations, basic guidelines of contemporary international relations,
China's national interests, and bilateral relations between China and
the related countries.
In fact, China appreciates the Arab
League's peace efforts; the reason why China voted against the draft
resolution is related to its certain sections: they would provide a
foundation for Western countries to launch a future Syrian war.
For example, the draft resolution agreed
to solve the issue according to the schedule of the Arab League, and
reserved the right to take further action if the draft cannot be carried
out. But that hides acquiescence for free interpretation which would be
nothing less than starting the vicious dominoes of foreign armed
intervention in the Syrian conflict.
Libya has served a good example in this
regard, where the Security Council resolutions had been overstepped and
the Security Council authorization had been abused.
During the six-month war in Libya, at
least 25,000 civilians lost their lives, and no one can tell the exact
number of the people injured. If the Libyan model is applied to the case
of Syria, a similar disaster will undoubtedly occur, and the wounds of
war will be difficult to heal.
Additionally, to oust the leadership of a
ruling party in a sovereign country through a UN draft resolution is a
move that goes far beyond the UN body's role, and is out of sync with
the UN charter.
Sovereignty, independency and
noninterference in internal affairs are the legal basis by which small
and medium-sized countries survive within contemporary international
relations. Ignoring that, the world will fall into turmoil, beleaguered
by endless bloodshed and conflict.
The motivation of Western countries
towards Syria is very clear. Syria has always been at odds with the
West, and is an important ally of Iran in the Middle East region. To
remove an anti-Western power in Syria would increase the West's local
influence on the region and build the foundation for a Western solution
to the question of Iran.
Without Syria, Iran would have no other
regional ally, and its actions would be severely limited. And after the
Iranian dilemma is settled, there would be no rival or enemy in the
Middle East for Western powers.
To that end, the West strives to
introduce a regional multi-party competition mechanism in order to
"select" the most beneficial solution in accordance to their national
interests.
There used to be a saying: "There is no
eternal friend, only permanent interests." In modern times, the phrase
now reads: "There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests."
Under different situations, Western
nations will choose different parties or even support such parties in
their bid for power, which in essence derives from the "geo-strategy" or
"energy-led strategy" of the West.
The author is the President of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS).
This article is extracted from a China.org.cn Chinese interview with Qu Xing on Feb. 22, and translated by Lin Liyao. 
