In February, China voted twice against a UN draft resolution which strongly condemned the Syrian President Bashar Assad's cruel crackdown on domestic uprising and calls for his resignation.

This action is a comprehensive judgment that considers the basic principles of the Charter of the United Nations, basic guidelines of contemporary international relations, China's national interests, and bilateral relations between China and the related countries.

In fact, China appreciates the Arab League's peace efforts; the reason why China voted against the draft resolution is related to its certain sections: they would provide a foundation for Western countries to launch a future Syrian war.

For example, the draft resolution agreed to solve the issue according to the schedule of the Arab League, and reserved the right to take further action if the draft cannot be carried out. But that hides acquiescence for free interpretation which would be nothing less than starting the vicious dominoes of foreign armed intervention in the Syrian conflict.

Libya has served a good example in this regard, where the Security Council resolutions had been overstepped and the Security Council authorization had been abused.

During the six-month war in Libya, at least 25,000 civilians lost their lives, and no one can tell the exact number of the people injured. If the Libyan model is applied to the case of Syria, a similar disaster will undoubtedly occur, and the wounds of war will be difficult to heal.

Additionally, to oust the leadership of a ruling party in a sovereign country through a UN draft resolution is a move that goes far beyond the UN body's role, and is out of sync with the UN charter.

Sovereignty, independency and noninterference in internal affairs are the legal basis by which small and medium-sized countries survive within contemporary international relations. Ignoring that, the world will fall into turmoil, beleaguered by endless bloodshed and conflict.

The motivation of Western countries towards Syria is very clear. Syria has always been at odds with the West, and is an important ally of Iran in the Middle East region. To remove an anti-Western power in Syria would increase the West's local influence on the region and build the foundation for a Western solution to the question of Iran.

Without Syria, Iran would have no other regional ally, and its actions would be severely limited. And after the Iranian dilemma is settled, there would be no rival or enemy in the Middle East for Western powers.

To that end, the West strives to introduce a regional multi-party competition mechanism in order to "select" the most beneficial solution in accordance to their national interests.

There used to be a saying: "There is no eternal friend, only permanent interests." In modern times, the phrase now reads: "There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

Under different situations, Western nations will choose different parties or even support such parties in their bid for power, which in essence derives from the "geo-strategy" or "energy-led strategy" of the West.

The author is the President of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS).

This article is extracted from a China.org.cn Chinese interview with Qu Xing on Feb. 22, and translated by Lin Liyao.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

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