CYIL vol. 13 (2022)

MAX HILAIRE CYIL 13 ȍ2022Ȏ military action against Iraq. The sponsors subsequently withdrew the resolution and went on to invade Iraq without the authorization of the Security Council. China threatened to veto a Security Council resolution that would have authorized NATO to invade Serbia to protect the majority of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo who were being killed by Serbian forces. China abstained from Security Council resolution 1973 (2011) to authorize NATO to use military force in Libya to protect civilians in Benghazi. China later criticized the operation, especially after Gaddafi was assassinated. China has vetoed several Security Council resolutions on the conflict in Syria, even for humanitarian purposes. China has also opposed Security Council resolutions on the situation in Yemen. China did vote in favor of Security Council resolutions to end the war between Sudan and South Sudan, and it also deployed troops as part of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, China was very supportive of the US response. China voted in favor of Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) and 1373 (2001) to condemn the terrorist attacks on the United States. However, it was less willing to go along with the US once it realized the US attempt to expand its counterterrorism was a threat to its security interest. 99 China was one of the few non-Muslim nations to maintain ties with the Taliban. China’s policy in Afghanistan was to make sure the Taliban did not provide training or sanctuary to Chinese Uighurs who were fighting their war against Beijing for greater autonomy for their predominantly Muslim region. China, therefore, welcomed the presence of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan but stayed clear of any involvement. China has used Pakistan to conduct its policy in Afghanistan. Given the US withdrawal, China was one of the first countries to meet with the Taliban and the two sides agreed to work together. China, of course, wants Afghanistan to be part of its BRI, which would connect its current infrastructure projects in Pakistan with Afghanistan. However, until the Taliban can win international recognition as the legitimate government of Afghanistan it would be futile for China to pursue an investment strategy in Afghanistan. The political and security situation in Afghanistan remains fragile and unpredictable. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan may lead to a proxy war between India and Pakistan, or an intra-tribal conflict among the many Afghan tribes. The Taliban is not a homogenous group and was only united by one issue, the US occupation. Now that US troops have left Afghanistan, various Taliban factions may fight among themselves for control. Hence, governance remains a major challenge for the Taliban. Terrorist attacks carried out by ISIS-K are an indication the Taliban does not have a handle on the complete security of Afghanistan. Chinese Diplomacy at the United Nations Since its admission to the United Nations in 1971 as the official representative of the people of both Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China and following the United States’ establishment of diplomatic relations with its communist regime in 1978, at which time it was allowed to assume a seat on the Security Council, Chinese diplomacy at the United Nations has evolved. China has exercised its veto in the Security Council fourteen times to assert its authority in international relations and United Nations affairs. It has wielded its influence to halt Taiwan’s bid to be recognized as a separate state in the General Assembly and other United Nations Specialized Agencies. China has also vetoed resolutions in the Security Council to extend the mandates of UN peacekeeping missions in states with diplomatic 99 DELISLE, J. 9/11 and US-China Relations , at https://www.fpri.org/article/2011/09/911-and-u-s-china-relations/.

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