(CNN)-China will sometimes say “no” and the world should
get used to it.
That message came through when China joined Russia in blocking action on Syria.
“Do not mistakenly think that because China
takes a careful and responsible position on the Syria issue, China will not use
its veto power (否决权) or
will always abstain（弃权）,” said Cui Tiankai, China’s
vice foreign minister, “When China must use its veto power to say no, it will
surely use it.”
On Saturday, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called the vetoes “disgusting and shameful.”
He Wenping, director of African Studies at
the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the veto shows China’s confidence in foreign affairs. “A country expressing its true opinion – that’s progress.
China opposes the use of threat or force to achieve regime（政权）change in other countries. This
agrees with China’s long-standing diplomacy principle. It is also not
acceptable for China to rush a U.N. vote without sufficient
discussion.”
So why did China use its veto this time?
China’s critics say China’s veto of the U.N.
draft proposal(草案) was in
part due to Beijing’s fear that allowing a regime change in Syria could
encourage the spread of the Arab revolution and eventually threaten China.
He Wenping disagrees, “China has a completely different political system and economic development path. If someone in the
international community thinks that the Arab Spring will happen in China, then
I think they misjudge the situation in China, exaggerate(夸大) some problems in the Chinese
society and underestimate the ability of the Chinese government to control the
situation in China.”
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to
the passage?
A. China often uses its veto power on
international issues.
B. China never uses its veto power on
international issues.
C. China’s normal practice in the U.N. is to
abstain rather than veto.
D. China should not have veto power in the
U.N.
2.What is the international reaction to China’s
veto on the Syria issue?
A. Russia supports China B.
The U.S. feels very unhappy.
C. The international community is used to it.
D. The Arab countries show no concern.
3.Why did China use its veto power this time?
A. Because Russia and China are friends.
B. Because China wants to hold an opposite
stand against the U.S.
C. Because China
is worried about a chain-action resulting from Syria’s
revolution.
D. Because China
opposes the use of threat or force to achieve regime change in other countries.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A. China has a firm stand on international
issues.
B. The U.N. asks
the whole world to get used to China saying no on international
issues.
C. CNN believed that China helped Syria to fight against the U.N.
D. All the member countries of the U.N.
supported Susan Rice.
