China Justifies UN Veto Over Zimbabwe Sanctions

HARARE (Xinhua) -- China's veto of proposed sanctions against Zimbabwe by the United States and Britain last year has been vindicated by the formation of the inclusive government, outgoing Chinese Ambassador Yuan Nansheng said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of his departure to a new posting in Suriname, Yuan said it was likely that Zimbabwe could not have proceeded to form an inclusive government without the vetoes by China and Russia.

"China vetoed the resolution under two considerations. The first one was that China adopted the same position with the African Union and SADC and most African countries, especially the neighboring countries to Zimbabwe. As far as I know, SADC and the African Union did not wish to have passed this resolution," Yuan said.

"Second, China vetoed because we wish to create a better environment for Zimbabwe internationally and domestically and I cannot imagine that without the veto, the inclusive government of Zimbabwe would have been established," he added.

Yuan said he remembered Zanu PF chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa saying that among the intentions of the proposed sanctions was the issuing of travel bans to members of his party.

"So how can the representatives of Zanu PF like Chinamasa, (Nicholas) Goche and (Oppah) Muchinguri not go to South Africa and make the discussions with their (MDC) counterparts and how would South Africa have done their coordination job? So history has proved that the veto by China and Russia has provided a great foundation for the establishment of Zimbabwe's inclusive government and the better situation in Zimbabwe and the better international image of Zimbabwe," he said.

Britain and the United States last year attempted to have the UN Security Council impose sanctions on the country, citing bad governance and absence of the rule of law.

However, China and Russia vetoed the proposed resolution, arguing that SADC and AU initiatives which had already gathered momentum should be given a chance.