The Authors, Aaditya Mootha is a 1st year student at National Law University, Lucknow and Akshat Jaithlia is a 1st year student of Rajiv Gandhi National Law University, Patiala.
INTRODUCTION
The number of COVID-19 cases has crossed the benchmark of 20 lakh with U.S. and Italy being the worst affected countries. The overall death toll has been raised to 1,44,000. Each and every country is suffering financially, mentally, socially and battling this virus with different means of actions and initiatives. Though China is taking a dig at it, it is an undeniable fact that the virus first emerged in Wuhan, one of the industrial centers of China. From there, it was carried to Japan, Australia, America, Middle east and, now, the whole world is bearing the brunt of it. The cases in most of the countries are shooting up, whereas, China has recovered quickly from it and is moving towards regularity and normalcy.
But this has raised many questions on China over its lack of responsibility and its silence on addressing the world. This is evident from how the discussion[1] on this pandemic was refused and obstructed by China. The main aim of this article is to question that whether a country like China, which is more inclined towards fulfilling its selfish and political motives, truly deserves to be a permanent member of United Nation.
The draft proposal for meeting in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was put forward by Estonia, which is one of the members of UNSC. The draft was introduced in order to call for full transparency over the outbreak which was severely undermined by China. According to the reports, the proposal was declined by China by asking its allies- South Africa and Russia to vote against it. At this point of time, UN and WHO are also not willing to hold China accountable for this disaster since China has emerged as the leading distributor of masks, ventilators, suits and various equipment needed to treat the patients. This is not the 1st time, but China has misused its veto many times.
In 2019, Pulwama Terror attack took place in India in which 44 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. This whole attack was targeted by Pakistan based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammmad headed by Masood Azhar, where a suicide bomber drove an explosive- laden SUV into a convoy carrying Jawans. India asked UN to immediately designate Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. US, France, Russia and Britain backed India to declare him a terrorist, but it was the China, who being a veto-wielding permanent member, blocked[2] the proposal because it has always been a close ally of Pakistan. It was the only country among the 15 member Security Council to oppose the ban.
This is because of the quid pro quo relations that these countries enjoy with each other. For example, China has poured $62 billion to build the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor routed from China’s Xinjiang to Pakistan’s port of Gwadar. On one hand, this port has reduced China’s transportation cost, whereas, on the other hand, it has led to massive infrastructure development in Pakistan.
Similarly, in 2019, Venezuelan crisis was on its peak because of the economic sanctions by U.S. America introduced a draft in U.N. Security Council in order to have fresh elections in Venezuela, but is was vetoed by China because it has nearly 800 investment projects in Venezuela and in return, Venezuela gives a large amount of crude oil to China. Thereby, it was backing the Nicolas Maduro’s government in order to continue taking gain from Maduro’s government. In recent years, China has intentionally extended its funding to the UN in order to assert its diplomatic influence. That is why, China has always proved to be a country which does not believe in taking strong actions against the world issues as far as its own benefit is concerned.
In COVID-19 also, China’s lethargic response and wrong use of veto to stop discussions in UNSC which would have otherwise held in last week of March, clearly shows some thick soup in which China does not want itself to get trapped. China’s ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun gave a very abrupt reply on this issue saying that the “public health issue is not in the scope of mandate of the Security Council in a narrow concept. But what we do think is important is that the Security Council will also watch the situation very closely. At this moment, we do not have any plan to have a specific discussion on this issue.”
The 1st meeting of UNSC took place on the 9th of April[3] when the pandemic trapped more than 200 countries of the world. It is the time for the world to rethink over this issue as China is not at all worthy of getting a permanent membership. It is India, which was favored[4] over China for permanent membership in the UNSC by America. This suggestion was not taken seriously in 1950 by our country which has now resulted into the power used bluntly by this mysterious country over the world.
CONCLUSION
It is the duty of the UN to protect the interest of all the nations and to ensure the smooth flow between all its member nations. It is expected of the permanent members that they abide by all the norms and the guidelines of the international community while using any particular power which they possess. China, the country which is ranked no. 2 in terms of GDP, and the most populous country is expected to have a transparency and of thoughts and actions.
But it seems that over the years, China believes itself to be at the top of the world and takes only those things into consideration through which it is benefitted in the long run. In the instances overmentioned it is evident from the nature of the veto that has been used, it was guided by its own selfish and political interest and does not take into account the interest of the community. Hence keeping all these into consideration, it is really doubtful whether it should continue as a permanent member or not.
References:
[1] China obstructs discussion on Coronavirus in UNSC, blocks draft seeking full transperancy, THE STATESMAN, Mar. 20, 2020, available at https://www.thestatesman.com/world/china-obstructs-discussion-coronavirus-unsc-blocks-draft-seeking-full-transparency-1502870418.html (Last visited on 19-04-2020)
[2] Dipanjan Roy Chaudhary, ‘After China’s Masood Azhar Block, UNSC vote under consideration’, ECONOMIC TIMES, Mar. 15, 2020, available at https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/after-chinas-masood-azhar-block-unsc-vote-under-consideration/articleshow/68418293.cms?from=mdr (Last visited on 19-04-2020)
[3] ‘After months long delay, UN Security Council to discuss Coronavirus today’, THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, April 9, 2020, available at https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/apr/09/after-months-long-delay-un-security-council-to-discuss-coronavirus-today-2127889.html (Last visited on 19-04-2020)
[4] Mohammad Ayoob, ‘Nehru, China and the Security Council Seat’, THE HINDU, Mar. 18, 2018, available at https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/nehru-china-and-the-security-council-seat/article26561751.ece (Last visited on 19-04-2020)
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