Violations of Syria's Sovereignty Must Cease, China Says

On Monday, Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said that violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be brought to an end.

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There is no doubt that the recent U.S. military operations in eastern Syria constitute a violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and have nothing to do with the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, said Zhang.

"The unlawful presence of foreign forces and unlawful military operations in Syria must end," he told a UN Security Council briefing on Syria, adding that respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity is an important principle enshrined in the UN Charter and the cornerstone of international relations.

"The provisions of the UN Charter should not be mere quotes for lip service. They are not optional or subject to selective application, and they certainly do not lend themselves to misinterpretation or misapplication," he noted.

The only path to a political solution lies in letting the Syrian people decide the future of their country by themselves in the absence of any external interference, Zhang said, expressing hope that council elections will be held in September successfully.

On the humanitarian operations in Syria, the envoy reiterated that cross-border relief was a temporary arrangement, urging the transition of cross-border to cross-line operations to shift into a higher gear with a clear timetable in place for the eventual termination of cross-border relief.

Economic recovery and development are the ultimate means by which Syria can lift itself out of the humanitarian crisis. However, for a long time, unilateral sanctions have disrupted the lifelines of Syria's economic recovery, and illegal plundering has stolen away resources crucial to Syria's development, causing incalculable damage to the Syrian people.

"The unilateral sanctions against Syria and illegal plundering of its resources must stop," said Zhang.