China abstained from, but did not veto, a United Nations Security Council vote to implement a no-fly zone in Libya to end attacks on rebel forces by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. From Reuters:
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu laid out Beijing’s worries after the Security Council passed the resolution authorising the no-fly zone over Libya as well as “all necessary measures”, a term for military action, to protect civilians against leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.
Ten of the council’s 15 member states voted for the resolution, but Russia, China, Germany, India and Brazil abstained. China and Russia could have used their power as permanent members of the council to veto the decision.
Jiang’s comments showed China sought to balance its worries about authorising possible military action with the demands of Arab and other governments angered by Gaddafi’s unyielding response to uprisings demanding an end to his rule.
Throughout the recent tumult across the Middle East and north Africa, China has sought to avoid becoming deeply enmeshed and has little appetite for turning the regional upheaval into a point of confrontation with the United States.
