China Vetoed US Resolution On Venezuela At UNSC To Protect International Law - Beijing

China's decision to vote against the US-sponsored draft resolution on Venezuela in the UN Security Council was dictated by the need to protect the principles of international law and the UN Charter, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Friday

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st March, 2019) China's decision to vote against the US-sponsored draft resolution on Venezuela in the UN Security Council was dictated by the need to protect the principles of international law and the UN Charter, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Friday.

On Thursday, Russia and China vetoed the US-drafted UNSC resolution calling for new elections in the Latin American country. South Africa voted against the resolution, too, three countries abstained, while nine other states supported it. However, the United Nations Security Council rejected a draft resolution put forward by Russia to reaffirm the right of President Nicolas Maduro's government to coordinate aid deliveries to the Latin American country as well.

"The Chinese side proceeded in the UN Security Council from the fact that it is necessary to act in the spirit of the UN Charter, to protect the principles of international law, to promote a political settlement of the Venezuelan issue, to promote long-term peace and development," Lu told a briefing.

He stressed that maintaining peace and stability in Venezuela was in the fundamental interests of all parties, adding that the Chinese side called on the Venezuelan authorities and people to find a political solution to the problem through dialogue.

Venezuela is currently in the midst of a tumultuous political crisis. It all started on January 5, when lawmaker Juan Guaido was elected as the president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which all other government branches have been refusing to recognize since 2016.

On January 23, two days after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled his election, Guaido declared himself the country's "interim president." Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn in for his second presidential term on January 10 after winning the May election, which part of the opposition boycotted, qualified Guaido's move as an attempt to stage a coup orchestrated by Washington.

The United States immediately recognized Guaido, after which some 50 other countries followed suit. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other states have, in the meantime, voiced their support for the legitimate government of Maduro. Mexico and Uruguay have refused to recognize Guaido, declaring themselves neutral and promoting crisis settlement via dialogue.