Zhang Jun (front row, center), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, delivers a speech at a meeting of the UN Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept 27, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
China's ambassador to the United Nations urged the UN Security Council on Monday to adopt a prudent and responsible approach to sanctions, while raising the issue of sanctions imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and unilateral sanctions.
Zhang Jun, China's top envoy to the UN, made the remarks at a Security Council debate on general issues relating to sanctions.
"We need to consider in all seriousness how to take steps to improve the design and implementation of the council sanctions to minimize their adverse impact," he said.
They (sanctions) are not a substitute for diplomatic efforts. The council (UN Security Council) should keep in check the impulse to resort too readily to sanctions or the threat of sanctions, and should give precedence to noncompulsory measures such as good offices, mediation and negotiation.
Zhang Jun, China's top envoy to the UN
Zhang also said sanctions are meant to create enabling conditions for a political solution.
"They are not a substitute for diplomatic efforts. The council should keep in check the impulse to resort too readily to sanctions or the threat of sanctions, and should give precedence to noncompulsory measures such as good offices, mediation and negotiation," he said.
On sanction mechanisms, Zhang said it is important to design sanction mechanisms that dovetail precisely with the core issues at hand and the desired objectives.
He stressed that member states must faithfully implement the council sanctions. "Neither should they subtract a value from the formula by cutting corners, nor should they add a value to the formula by giving themselves too much license in interpretation and over compliance," he said.
As a basic principle, Security Council sanctions "should not be open-ended", with Zhang noting that "a sunset clause" should be introduced into all new sanction mechanisms going forward.
Referring to the council's sanctions committees, the ambassador underscored that committees "must be selected against the highest professional standards consistently and in line with the principles of diversity and equitable geographical distribution".
Talking about the sanctions imposed on the DPRK, Zhang said "Resolution 2397 has brought about serious humanitarian consequences since its adoption", noting that the imports of humanitarian livelihood goods such as agricultural machinery, medical equipment and water purification pipes have been severely restricted.
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Last October, China and Russia co-sponsored a draft resolution on the DPRK at the Security Council, aiming to eliminate the impact that sanctions have on humanitarian efforts and livelihoods and to create enabling conditions for resuming dialogue and consultation and supporting political solutions.
"Regrettably, however, a scant few council members chose to refuse to discuss this draft resolution. China once again calls on those members not to evade the issue, and to participate in the consultations on the draft resolution in a responsible and positive manner," Zhang said.
As a basic principle, Security Council sanctions "should not be open-ended", with Zhang Jun noting that "a sunset clause" should be introduced into all new sanction mechanisms going forward
'Addicted' to curbs
On the issue of unilateral sanctions, Zhang said: "We should be all the more cognizant of the harm of unilateral sanctions imposed by certain countries."
Unilateral sanctions are extremely harmful, but it is a matter of concern that a few countries have failed to rein in their unilateral sanctions. "On the contrary, they have been flinging them about left, right and center, in a frenzy so much so that they seem to be addicted to them," Zhang said.
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"We have seen that unilateral sanctions imposed in the various names have thrown a spanner in the works of economic and social development and scientific and technological progress of the targeted countries, created an aggravated humanitarian crisis, violated the basic rights of civilians, including women, children, and caused great damage to the harmony and stability of international relations."
Xinhua contributed to this story.
minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com