China calls for immediate cease-fire in Libya, after days of allied airstrikes

[IScreamSundays]

Source: haaretz

BEIJING - China called Tuesday for an immediate cease-fire in Libya where the U.S. and European nations have launched punishing airstrikes to enforce a United Nations endorsed no-fly zone.

"All parties must immediately cease fire and resolve issues through peaceful means," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regularly scheduled news conference, citing unconfirmed reports that the airstrikes had caused civilian deaths.

China was one of five countries that abstained from last week's vote on the UN resolution to allow all necessary measures to stop Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi's assault on rebel-held towns. It was approved with the backing of the United States, France and Britain.

Beijing has been sharply critical of the airstrikes that hit Libyan air defenses and forces for a third night Monday. The Foreign Ministry registered serious reservations about the resolution, and on Monday the country's most important political newspaper compared the Western airstrikes against Libya to the U.S.-led invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/china-calls-for-immediate-cease-fire-in-libya-after-days-of-allied-airstrikes-1.351113

[Windy]

1. there is a reason for China's "concern"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12815047

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Category error.

Western nations alone, and the US in particular, may have their actions motivated by oil.

China's concern is therefore purely humanitarian.

[Iliyah]

3. OK

But China has the same concern regarding the oil. Trust me, it has nothing to do with humanitarian reasons. If they were that concern don't ya'll think they would take care of home first?

[ronnie624]

14. Thankfully, China isn't currently traipsing about, declaring perpetual war. n/t

[Windy]

4. Did you even read the article??? China is the largest consumer of Libyan oil! nt

[Baclava]

5. Fuck you China, we'll kick your ass too. Come and get some!

signed >
the warparty

[David__77]

6. Wouldn't a multilateral ceasefire protect civilians the most?

If the goal is to create peaceful conditions, then ceasing armed conflict would do that. I don't think that's everyone's objective, which is fine, but the truth should be on the table.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Only if all sides stopped shooting.

Otherwise, it only favors Qaddafi, which favors the resumption of oil flow to China.

But I'm sure China's motives are purely humanitarian.

:hi:

[ronnie624]

15. China isn't attacking other countries.

On this issue, whatever its motives, China currently occupies the moral high-ground.

[CJvR]

10. Sure...

...if it was extended behind Gaddafi's lines and not just limited to the front lines.

[Nossida]

8. when is the last time

China attacked or bombed anyone?

This Libya situation shows the Allies
for what they are. Riff Raff.
Humanitarian considerations my ass.

[Shiver]

12. Last time China attacked anyone?

1979: Sino-Vietnamese War

1988: Johnson South Reef Skirmish with Vietnam.

1989: June Fourth Incident, also known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Those were what I could find with a few minutes of searching, along with various missile tests and almost-conflicts with Taiwan.

[David__77]

13. I count 1979 as the last time.

1979 is the last time there was an external aggression by China. Their attack against Vietnam was wrong. It was not excused by Vietnam's also-immoral attack against Cambodia. 32 years is a lot longer than this country has gone...

[Marengo]

18. Nothing "immoral" about the VN invasion of "Democratic Kampuchea"

The Vietnamese performed a great humanitarian service by doing so.

[David__77]

19. I disagree. Vietnamese-Soviet expansionism was wrong. The US had the right position.

It's popular to disagree in retrospect, but the US and most of the world, with the exception of the hard-core Soviet allies, completely opposed that invasion.

[Marengo]

20. LOL! Is that best you have to offer??

The U.S. opposed the invasion! :wow: Golly gee, such a suprise. I'm certain the reasons were progressive and humanitarian in origin.

[FLPanhandle]

9. China, you had your chance to vote "no".

You abstained. STFU.

[CJvR]

11. The Chinese just...

...want Gaddafi to win, the Arab revolt is as dangerous to them as it is to the Arab dictators. They don't actually want to be on record as supporting him, particulary not if he is about to go Saddam on the Libyans.

[ronnie624]

16. It isn't China that is responsible for the deaths of millions of people in the Middle East. n/t

[CJvR]

17. Dont confuse...

...lack of ability with some sort of moral superiority. China is totally amoral in it's quest for resources.
Keeping Gaddafi in power is greatly in the intrest the Chinese regime, not just from the oil perspective but also from a political point of view. A squashed popular revolt is much preferable to a dictatorship than a successful popular revolt.

[RedCloud]

21. They are our overlords. Show some respect.