According to reports from the website of Chinas Permanent Mission to the United Nations on June 1st, Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Fu Cong, spoke at an urgent meeting of the Security Council regarding the situation in Lebanon and Israel.
President:
The Chinese side supports the Security Council in holding todays emergency meeting. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Bobi for his briefing.
Recently, tensions between Israel and Lebanon have escalated dramatically. Israel has expanded its military operations in Lebanon, continuously expanding what it calls safe zones. It has even crossed the Litani River and taken control of Fort Beaurepaire. This is Israels most extensive military operation against Lebanon in over 20 years. Israel also claims that it intends to further expand its military actions. The intentions behind these actions, along with the serious consequences they may bring, cause significant concern among the international community. The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is essentially non-existent at this point. It is essential for the international community to take urgent action before the situation deteriorates into an even more dangerous situation. I have three points to discuss:
First, it is essential to immediately cease hostilities and calm the tense situation. Israels continued use of military force has resulted in the deaths of over 3,400 people in Lebanon. Force is not a solution to problems; expanding occupation does not lead to lasting security. All parties involved, especially Israel, must immediately stop hostile actions, fully comply with the temporary ceasefire arrangements, implement Security Council Resolution 1701 and related resolutions, and work towards cooling the situation as soon as possible. We note that negotiations are underway between Lebanon and Israel regarding a ceasefire. We welcome any efforts toward peace. It is hoped that countries that have significant influence over the parties involved will take active steps to facilitate a prompt ceasefire. Lebanons sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected. Israel must immediately withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
Secondly, it is necessary to increase support for Lebanon and stabilize the domestic situation. The war has destroyed many towns and infrastructure in Lebanon, leaving over 1 million people displaced. This has had a significant impact on the humanitarian situation in southern Lebanon. Emergency humanitarian assistance must be provided to Lebanon, ensuring that humanitarian agencies receive sufficient funding to help Lebanon cope with these humanitarian challenges. Lebanon has unique circumstances, and the international community should support Lebanon in maintaining national stability and promoting internal unity. We welcome the efforts of the Lebanese government to maintain state control over the country, and we support political dialogue among all parties within Lebanon, in order to resolve differences peacefully.
Thirdly, it is essential to ensure that UNIFIL can carry out its duties and maintain regional stability. UNIFIL plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining stability in the Lebanese-Israeli region. Since the escalation of tensions, there have been several incidents where UNIFIL was attacked or faced obstacles in its operations. The Chinese side condemns any attacks against peacekeeping personnel and urges all parties to effectively protect the safety and freedom of movement of UNIFIL. All incidents of attack must be seriously addressed. The authorization given to UNIFIL is coming to an end, and the Security Council must make responsible decisions to ensure the continued presence of the United Nations in Lebanon and prevent a security vacuum from developing.
China is willing to work together with all parties to promote the early settlement of the situation in Lebanon and Israel, and restore peace and stability in Lebanon and the Middle East region.
