China Signals Veto on UNAMA Mandate in Afghanistan

China signals veto in standoff with US over UN security council resolution to extend the UN political mission’s mandate in Afghanistan.

China signals veto in standoff with US over UN security council resolution to extend the UN political mission’s mandate in Afghanistan.
Beijing signals it will cast a veto because there is no reference to its global “Belt and Road infrastructure project”, according to Reuters.
The UN political mission’s mandate expires on Tuesday. To pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain.

The U.N. mission, known as UNAMA, which was established in 2002, is helping Afghanistan prepare for Sept. 28 elections and is pushing for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
The UNAMA mandate is renewed annually by the Security Council. The resolutions in 2016, 2017 and 2018 all included a reference welcoming and urging efforts like China’s Belt and Road initiative to facilitate trade and transit.

A planned vote on Monday by the 15-member Security Council to renew the mission, was delayed to Tuesday to allow for further negotiations.