China described a resolution by Brazil, Germany, India and Japan to expand the UN Security Council -- and hopefully give them permanent seats -- as "dangerous" and hinted it would use its veto power if necessary to block final approval.
The language used by China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya (
Wang made clear in an interview that China opposes any move to expand the council now because the 191 UN member states are deeply divided.
Brazil, Germany, India and Japan -- known as the Group of Four or G-4 -- circulated the resolution on May 16 and have indicated they will put it to a vote by the General Assembly this month.
"I think what has been proposed by G-4 is very dangerous, so as far as China is concerned, we will work with others to see that this will not happen," Wang said in an interview on Tuesday.
He said the resolution will split the UN membership, and if the G-4 push for a vote "the whole atmosphere in this house is being undermined, is being destroyed."
Every UN member also has a different opinion on who should be the permanent members, he said.
China has opposed Japan's bid for a permanent seat, complaining about what many Asians consider Japan's lack of atonement for World War II abuses.
The result, Wang said, will be that UN members will not be able to discuss other more important issues that Secretary-General Kofi Annan wants included in a major overhaul of the UN to meet the global threats and challenges of the 21st century -- from a new peacebuilding commission and human rights council to new measures to reduce poverty and promote education.
After 10 years of seemingly endless debate, Annan told UN member states in March that he wants a decision on council expansion before September, when he has invited world leaders to a summit to consider restructuring the UN.
He suggested that if consensus wasn't possible, the General Assembly president should consider calling a vote.
There is wide support for expanding the Security Council, whose composition reflects the post-World War II era when the UN was created, to represent the global realities today.
But the size and membership of an expanded council remains contentious.
The G-4 resolution needs to be approved by two-thirds of the 191 member states to be adopted, but that's only a first step.
New permanent members then would have to be elected by similar two-thirds votes.
But the most difficult step to take is a final resolution that changes the UN Charter, which not only requires a two-thirds vote but also approval by the Security Council's five permanent members who wield veto power -- the US, Russia, China, Britain and France.
Wang said that "if it comes to the last stage, I'm sure our legislature would take into account the feelings of others -- and I don't think they will take a very positive action on this."
But council diplomats said that over time, positions change -- as witnessed by the last council expansion in 1965, when some key opponents eventually voted "yes."
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