China's rational role in the Strait of Hormuz crisis

Editor's note: Kong Qingjiang, a special commentator for CGTN, is the vice dean of the School of International Law, China University of Political Science and Law. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

On April 7, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted on a draft resolution concerning the Strait of Hormuz, submitted by Bahrain and other countries. With 11 votes in favor and two abstentions, China and Russia cast crucial vetoes, resulting in the draft's failure. In his explanatory remarks, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, stated that the draft resolution "fails to reflect the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner."

Exercising the veto power by China does not signify its indifference to the safety of shipping lanes, of which China is a regular user; rather, it represents China's rational choice, grounded in its sense of responsibility as a major power and permanent member of the UNSC to uphold international peace and security, with the core objective of "ceasefire and de-escalation."

Fu's remarks clearly outline the core logic of China's position. He pointed out that the fundamental reason for the obstruction of navigation in the strait is "the illegal military actions initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran." It is the war, "which should never have happened," that has dragged on for over a month, with spillover effects continuing to spread, severely impacting regional and global peace and stability.

Unfortunately, while the draft resolution condemns Iran's attacks, it makes no mention of the illegal military actions of the US and Israel. Such a selective narrative does not help resolve the fundamental issue; instead, it obscures the truth and may exacerbate tensions.

Another reason is that China firmly opposes any action that could "greenlight" further escalation of the conflict. Fu stressed that, against the backdrop of a high likelihood of further escalation, the UNSC's actions "should focus on de-escalation, not provide a legal veneer for unauthorized military actions, nor issue a permit for the use of force."

As a matter of fact, China itself has already plugged into the effort to de-escalate immediately after the war broke out. China's Middle East envoy was found to shuttle through the war-torn areas in order to make peace. Unfortunately, provisions in the draft resolution regarding "armed escort" could easily be misinterpreted or abused, granting a "legal" cover for military intervention and repeating the mistakes made in Libya and the Red Sea.

China's veto was precisely aimed at preventing the UNSC from becoming an endorsement tool for unilateral military actions, thereby averting a slide into even more dangerous territory.

China's position is not merely passive opposition but contains positive and constructive proposals. In his remarks, Fu not only called on the US and Israel to immediately cease their illegal acts of war but also urged Iran to stop attacks on facilities in Gulf states, accommodate the legitimate concerns of countries in the region and restore normal navigation through the Strait as soon as possible.

Notably, China, together with Russia, submitted an alternative draft resolution, which demands easing tensions and safeguarding navigation rights and freedoms in addition to calling for dialogue and negotiation. All these reflect China's balanced and fair stance.

In contrast, the ensuing developments regarding the initiators of the war in the region proved China's foresight. One development is that late on Tuesday, both the US and Iran announced a conditional ceasefire on their own, which showed that managing the crisis and avoiding a spiral of military escalation through diplomatic dialogue and negotiation is possible.

Another development is that Israel launched a barrage of attacks in Lebanon on April 8, which is a blatant violation of international law. The latest development came as a fragile ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran hangs in the balance. It reinforces Ambassador Fu's words that the fundamental solution to ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz is to achieve an end to hostilities as soon as possible. 

China's vote in the UNSC represents a steadfast commitment to peace, a call for rationality and the upholding of the fundamental principles of international law. Amid the continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and growing risks of spillover, China's choice transcends simple "siding with one party," consistently focusing on the fundamental resolution of the conflict and long-term stability in the region.

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