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Why did China acquiesce to UN resolution1973

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West’s Diplomacy Trumps China Fear. China and Russia were both worried about Western military action in Libya.

West’s Diplomacy Trumps China Fear

So why didn’t they veto it when they had the chance? While the debate continues over the question of just how far the Western coalition should go in assisting Libya’s rebels, one diplomatic achievement during this whole crisis has been largely overlooked— the fact that the West managed to avoid a major row with China and Russia. Given the history of Chinese and Russian objections to such interventions, this was no mean feat. Like all Security Council resolutions, Resolution 1973—which authorised the creation of a no-fly zone over Libya, and the bombing of ground targets—left considerable room for interpretation. The resolution authorizes UN members ‘to take all necessary measures…to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamhariya.’ PacNet 20 - China’s Acquiescence on UNSCR 1973: No Big Deal. Pac1120.