China said on Tuesday that it is strictly implementing UN resolutions, responding to countries that have requested Beijing’s assistance in preventing North Korea from circumventing sanctions by using Chinese territorial waters.
In a letter, addressed to Zhang Jun, Beijing’s representative to the United Nations, the G7 countries and the European Union (EU), he expressed concern about the “continued presence of various tankers” in Chinese waters, which “facilitate trade in sanctioned petroleum products” to North Korea.
The letter was signed by the ambassadors to the UN of Australia, Canada, France, the EU, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Beijing said it “strictly implements UN Security Council resolutions and takes its international obligations seriously.”
“China urges the relevant parties to fully implement the UN Security Council resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea’s official name), especially the provisions on resuming dialogue, strengthening diplomatic efforts and promoting a political settlement,” the spokesperson for the Chinese mission to the UN said on Twitter.
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that “China has always respected its international obligations regarding the implementation of Security Council resolutions.”
The letter signed by the G7 and the EU indicated that the presence and movements of the tankers were observed by the United Nations panel of experts that monitors compliance with sanctions against Pyongyang.
North Korea has been subject to international sanctions since 2006. The sanctions were increased three times in 2017 when the country tested atomic weapons and ballistic missiles.
Measures adopted unanimously by the Security Council limit the country’s oil imports.
Since 2017, the Security Council has failed to reach a unified position.
In May 2022, China and Russia vetoed a resolution imposing new sanctions against Pyongyang. Since then, no Council resolutions or statements have been adopted, despite North Korea carrying out several missile launches, including last Saturday.
The United States, in particular, regularly accuses Beijing and Moscow of serving as a “shield” for the North Korean regime and encouraging more shooting by preventing a united Security Council response.
Source: TSF
