As Syria conflict rages, China hews to ‘non-interference’ principle
As the fight for control of Damascus escalates, China appears to be gambling that even if Syria’s government falls, respect for Beijing’s “principled position” against outside interference will outweigh any lingering hostility from the Arab street.
On Thursday, China joined with Russia to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have imposed sanctions on Syria — the third such double veto of a resolution targeting President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The action drew international condemnation, including fierce criticism from some Chinese Internet users who accused their leaders of being once again on the wrong side of history.
“As a Chinese citizen, I only represent myself and apologize to the Syrian people,” one user posted Friday on his microblogging account. “I will always stand together with the Syrian people.”
“It’s likely that the Assad administration will be overthrown,” said an editorial in the Global Times newspaper, which is owned by the Communist Party’s main mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, and whose views often reflect the Party’s official stance. “But China does not necessarily need to change its policy and principle of opposing foreign military intervention in Syria.” The editorial elicited harsh comments from readers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/as-syria-conflict-rages-china-hews-to-non-interference-principle/2012/07/20/gJQAcOcSyW_story.html
