China responds cautiously to G4 nation's offer to give up veto

BEIJING: China today called for a "package solution" accommodating "concerns and interests" of all parties to reform the UN Security Council after India along with other G4 nations offered to initially forgo veto powers to secure a permanent seat on the world body's top organ.

In a guarded reaction to the G4 countries' offer, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China supports UN Security Council (UNSC) reform and maintains that developing countries should have more representation and voice.

"Security Council reform concerns issues like membership categories, regional representation, veto power," Hua said in a written response to PTI.

She was responding to a question related to a joint statement delivered by India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin on March 7 at an inter-governmental negotiations meeting of the G4 nations -- India, Brazil, Germany and Japan.

These issues "can only be addressed by reaching a package solution that accommodates all parties' interests and concerns through broad-based democratic consultations," Hua said.

Pakistan, a close ally of China, opposes any additional permanent members. Italy/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group has proposed a new category of members -- not permanent -- with longer duration and a possibility to get re-elected once.

China is part of the veto-wielding permanent five members which also include the US, Russia, France and the UK.

On March 7, the G4 members in a bid to get the UN reform process moving said they were open to innovative ideas and willing to forgo veto power as permanent members of a reformed Security Council until a decision on it has been taken.

The G4 joint statement emphasised that an overwhelming majority of the UN member states supports the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership in a reformed Security Council.