Its not Iran or Ahmedinejad Statement: Its China

[Guest Thaqalain]

overseas edition of the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, said in a front-page commentary China was right to stand up for what it believed was the correct course over Syria.

"The Syrian situation is worsening, and China and Russia's decision to veto created a 'window of opportunity' for a soft landing to the problem, which should not be wasted," wrote Ruan Zongze, who the paper identified as a foreign affairs expert.

Ruan said China should tough out the international outcry over the veto.

"Today, China, because of its rapidly rising strength, sits at the main table on the global stage, and needs to get used to newly being in the limelight. The international community also needs to adjust to China's new role," Ruan said.

"Although this means that China will face even more difficult choices when it comes to handling complex international affairs, China must dare to speak its mind, and proactively create a just, rational global political process."

[Guest Thaqalain]

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters that Western powers that initiated the U.N. Security Council vote on their resolution were culpable for not going far enough in seeking compromise.

"China is not playing favourites and nor is it deliberately opposing anyone, but rather is upholding an objective and fair stance and a responsible position," Liu said.

 

"Our goal is for the Syrian people to escape violence, conflict and flames of war, and not to make the problem even more complicated," he said.

 

In the People's Daily, Ruan said the resolution had been aimed at "regime change", which ran contrary to the U.N.'s charter, hence China could not support it.

 

China was leading the charge to prevent the Security Council from becoming "just a rubber stamp", Ruan said.

 

"The international community ought to create conditions for national political reconciliation in Syria and push for dialogue and the narrowing of differences," he wrote.