DATE=9/22/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - CHINA - SOVEREIGNTY (L - ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254211
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China says it is opposed to calls by some
countries for the United Nations to be more active in
humanitarian intervention. China's foreign minister
challenged those calls today (Wednesday) in a speech
to the United Nations General Assembly, as we hear
from our U-N correspondent Max Ruston.
TEXT: Chinese Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan, says
his government's policy on U-N intervention in
humanitarian disasters is clear: it should not be done
without full Security Council endorsement and approval
from the states involved.
Mr. Tang's statement is the most direct challenge yet
to a theme set Monday by U-N Secretary-General Kofi
Annan. Mr. Annan urged U-N member states to be more
aggressive in protecting civilians in armed conflict,
even at the risk of challenging traditional
definitions of sovereignty.
The Chinese foreign minister, speaking through an
interpreter, said the principles of national
sovereignty must take precedence over intervention.
/// TANG INTERPRETER ACT ///
Any deviation from or violation of these
principles would destroy the universally-
recognized norms governing international
relations, and would lead to the rampage of
hegemonism; if "might is right" should prevail,
new "gun-boat policy" would wreak havoc, the
sovereignty and independence by virtue of which
some small and weak countries protect themselves
would be jeopardized and international peace and
stability would be seriously endangered.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Tang singled out NATO intervention in Kosovo in
criticizing what he described as a trend toward
allowing human rights to take precedence over
sovereignty. He said the Kosovo crisis has proved
that intervention without Security Council approval or
prior consent of the country concerned only causes
greater humanitarian catastrophe. He described NATO
intervention in Kosovo as an ominous precedent in
international relations and a violation of the U-N
Charter.
Earlier this year, Britain, France and the United
States sought Security Council approval for
intervention in Kosovo. China and Russia rejected
those efforts and have regularly criticized NATO since
that time.
Mr. Annan's call for the Security Council to be more
aggressive in humanitarian intervention has generally
been welcomed by other world leaders at the debate of
the U-N General Assembly, now under way in New York.
Just before Mr. Tang addressed the assembly, Germany's
foreign minister said the Kosovo crisis showed that
the world could stop dictators from waging war against
their own people.
Diplomats say China and Russia are particularly
sensitive about intervention because they do NOT
want outside interference in regions such as Chechnya,
Tibet and Taiwan. (Signed)
NEB/MPR/TVM/JP
22-Sep-1999 15:10 PM EDT (22-Sep-1999 1910 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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