At around 14:00 local time on November 14, the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution to extend the sanctions mechanism for Yemen. The vote result was 13 votes in favor, with China and Russia casting abstentions.

According to a message released by the website of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations on the 14th, Ambassador Geng Shuang, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, said in an explanatory statement after the vote that China supports the normal extension of the mechanism, but the sudden proposal by certain countries for "board inspections at sea" would seriously affect freedom of navigation and maritime transportation, even causing shocks to the normal international trade order and infringing on the rights of countries to conduct international trade according to international law. China has major reservations about this, and therefore had to cast an abstention vote.

The full text of Ambassador Geng Shuang's speech is as follows:

Mr. Chairman:

Currently, there is a ceasefire in Gaza, and the Middle East shows signs of easing. There is now an opportunity to resolve the issues in Yemen and the Red Sea. China has always advocated resolving the Yemen issue through political and diplomatic means, and calls on all parties concerned to seize the current opportunity, resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and restart the peaceful process in Yemen. The international community should create favorable conditions for this and actively promote peace talks.

The sanctions mechanism related to Yemen in the Security Council will expire on November 15. We support the normal extension of the mechanism, but certain countries suddenly proposed the idea of "board inspections at sea" ten days before the expiration, authorizing member states to conduct board inspections on passing vessels in the Red Sea and nearby waters based on so-called "reasonable reasons". The standards of these measures are unclear, the implementation lacks supervision, and there is a high degree of arbitrariness. In particular, it violates the exclusive jurisdiction of the flag state over its own ships. In practice, there are many disadvantages, and it is easy to be abused by individual countries. This will seriously affect freedom of navigation and maritime transportation, and even cause shocks to the normal international trade order, infringing on the rights of countries to conduct international trade according to international law. Although the resolution draft put to the vote has weakened the relevant content, the specific wording still has obvious bias and aims to push for the establishment of "board inspections at sea" measures. China has major reservations about this, and therefore had to cast an abstention vote.

Mr. Chairman,

The expert group of the Yemen Sanctions Committee will submit a report on strengthening information sharing and the capacity of flag states. We hope that the expert group will abide by its mandate, uphold the spirit of objectivity, fairness, professionalism, and responsibility, and write the report based on lessons learned from relevant maritime practices and full consideration of the views of Security Council members, offering constructive suggestions and recommendations. These recommendations should help the political solution of the Yemen issue, rather than exacerbate tensions and provoke confrontation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572790757040472627/

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