After 'Biggest Opponent' Jab by Jaishankar, China Says UNSC Reforms Shouldn't Serve the Few

New Delhi: After Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar pointed the finger at Beijing for obstructing UN Security Council reform, China has countered, asserting that reforms should not cater to "the selfish interests of a few”.

During the Raisina Dialogue last week, Jaishankar stated that Security Council reforms faced complex geopolitical challenges and diverse positions. He also added that the “biggest opponent” of UNSC reforms “is not a western country”, directly alluding to China without naming it.

Ostensibly in response to Jaishankar’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that member states need to seek the broadest possible consensus for a package solution through serious and thorough consultations when it comes to UNSC reforms. “The reform should benefit all member states rather than serving the selfish interests of a few,” she said, pointedly.

She said that China believes that “reform of the Security Council should effectively increase the representation and say of developing countries and give more small and medium-sized countries the opportunity to participate in the decision-making of the organization”.

India has projected itself as a candidate for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council, along with Japan, Germany and Brazil. 

However, while individual countries like US, UK, Russia and France may support India’s candidature, it holds little practical significance in the absence of a global consensus regarding the composition of an expanded Council and the fate of the veto power.

While all the permanent members support greater representation of Africa, the African Union’s insistence of expansion in veto for new members does not find many takers, including in China.

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