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China: No need for new resolution

Tang is heading to New York to hear the latest report from U.N. weapons inspectors.
Tang is heading to New York to hear the latest report from U.N. weapons inspectors.

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start quoteThe Iraq issue is now at critical juncture of whether there will be a military solution or a political oneend quote
-- Tang Jiaxuan
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BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Backing a joint statement by France, Germany and Russia, China's foreign minister has said he believes a new resolution on Iraqi disarmament is "absolutely unnecessary."

Saying the issue was at "a critical juncture" Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said China was working hard to ensure a political solution to avoid war.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing Tang said Beijing's position on the crisis was that the arms inspections protocol should continue as the job of the weapons inspectors was incomplete.

"At this moment, it is absolutely unnecessary to put aside Resolution 1441 and table a new one at the Security Council," he said.

"The tasks spelled out by that resolution are not completed yet, especially the tasks to continue and strengthen inspections until [inspectors] get to bottom of it."

China is one of five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, and along with France, Germany and Russia is against the use of force and opts for a diplomatic end to the Iraq crisis.

Sidestepping a question on China using its Security Council veto should a new resolution be sought he said he believed a political solution could still be brokered through the framework of the United Nations.

"The Iraq issue is now at critical juncture of whether there will be a military solution or a political one," Tang said.

"We hope for a political solution within in the framework of the U.N. Security Council."

Pressure on Pyongyang

On the issue of North Korea, Tang called for direct dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, saying the imposing of sanctions on the reclusive state would cause "complications."

"We have all along called for dialogue and opposed pressure or sanctions against North Korea. Rather than solving the problem, this can only lead to the complication of the situation," Tang told a news conference.

The United States has urged China to use its influence on Pyongyang, but recent efforts to form a regional coalition to pressure North Korea over its suspected nuclear weapons program are faltering.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell failed on a recent visit to the region lobbying for a multi-lateral approach from Japan, China and South Korea.

Analysts say Beijing does not want to lean too hard on the Pyongyang government fearing negative consequences from a possible war or regime collapse.

Either outcome could see thousands of North Korean refugees flooding into neighboring China.


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