Western efforts to force Syria resolution through UNSC is doomed and dangerous

The UN Security Council failed, for the third time, to adopt a Western resolution on Syria on Thursday after a double veto from Russia and China, further exposing the profound divisions among key council members on how to end the escalating violence in the Middle East country. China's stance on the Syria issue is consistent and clear. The country has long called for an immediate end to all kinds of violence and worked hard with other countries to pave the way for a political solution to the 16-month long crisis. The latest draft, backed by Britain, the United States and some other countries, threatens to impose sanctions against the Syrian government without exerting enough pressure on the increasingly violent opposition groups. Given to the unbalanced nature of the draft and the Western envoys' intransigence in the negotiations, no one has really expected the document to get anywhere. It is doomed from the very beginning. Unfortunately, some Western countries hastily pushed for a vote on the immature draft, which, if adopted, will only lead to more violence in Syria. Western diplomats rushed to point fingers at Russia and China after the resolution was defeated, but they have only themselves to blame for trying to force such an ill-considered draft through the Council. Besides, the Western diplomats displayed arrogance and inflexibility when responding to other Council members' concerns during the negotiations, ultimately leading to the failure of their efforts. It is safe to say the resolution is dead, but the damage has been done. The West, by pushing for sanctions against the Syrian government, sent a clear signal to the armed opposition groups that politicians in London and Washington are only interested in tieing the hands of Damascus, while the violent operations of the anti-government forces would be tolerated and even encouraged. For the UN Security Council, its credibility has been further damaged as major powers are locked in fierce internal bickering. The Western attempt to force the draft resolution through the Council has also poisoned the atmosphere among key council members. Instead of taking up a confrontational approach, major Western powers should work with Russia and China to support the peace-making efforts of UN-Arab League joint special envoy Kofi Annan. The mandate of the U.N Supervision Mission in Syria, which expires on Friday, should be renewed as soon as possible to give peace efforts another chance. Council members should also enhance coordination and display flexibility so as to convey an unified message to all concerned parties in Syria. Only through this way can the Council find an effective resolution to the crisis and secure its own credibility. The future of Syria should only be decided by the Syrian people. Any outside intervention, if driven by geopolitical ambitions, will only further complicate the situation and lead to more bloodshed in the conflicts-torn country.