NEW YORK – United States and China clash at the United Nations SecurityCouncil over the Afghanistan Mission.
*The confrontation is reported over the issue of the extension of UNMission to Afghanistan. The* US-China confrontation is threatening the fateof the UN’s mission to Afghanistan, known as UNAMA. The mission, whosemandate is due to expire on Tuesday, needs a resolution to be passedwithout vetoes, and the current resolution does not include provisions forChina’s Belt and Road project.
While threatening a veto, China has also proposed a “short draftresolution,” which would keep UNAMA temporarily running, but this stopgapmeasure might not get the necessary nine votes, because some members mayabstain.
The UN mission, which was established in 2002, is currently helpingAfghanistan prepare for the Sept. 28 elections and is advocating for peacetalks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
UNAMA’s previous renewals all included encouragement for efforts likeChina’s Belt and Road initiative, because the project would aid trade andtransportation.
But in March, the US and other council members wanted the languageregarding the Belt and Road initiative removed, which triggered thestand-off with China. Currently, the mission is sustained by a temporarysix-month provision.