China in the UN Security Council decision-making on Iraq : conflicting understandings, competing preferences, 1990-2002

With the rupture of the UN Security Council in March 2003 over the US spearheaded intervention in Iraq, the attempts made to subject the use of force to the rule of law had failed. Widespread Europe-US disagreement of the role of the UNSC has hindered more effective decisions for China and its European and American counterparts in the Security Council. Iraq, China and the UN Security Council examines the role of China's policy behaviour in relation to the Iraq intervention, in order to develop a better understanding of this fast-rising power within the UN. It looks at key questions such as: What consequences may arise if China’s actions are based on a set of values and national interests far removed from those of the major Western powers? Could China’s attitude disrupt the traditional working and normative practice of the United Nations? The book will be of interest to scholars and students of international relations and Chinese Politics. "This book analyses and explains China's behaviour as an increasingly significant member of the United Nations Security Council by the concept of strategic peferences developed in this book. Looking at the continuity and change within China's policy behaviour, it extends our understanding of this fast-rising power within the UN. As much about ideas as action, this book asks why and in what ways ideas matter in foreign policy analysis. To explain China's role in UN Security Council decision-making accurately, the author utilizes an original theoretical framework employing the concept of strategic preferences. To explain China's strategy in the UN Security Council of balancing long-term and short-term concerns, the book examines set and ranked preferences for the courses of action which are informed by China's national purposes. The book argues that present theories fail to capture the complexity of China's thinking, the sense of vulnerability underlying China's policy behaviour, and the increasing willingness to position itself as a responsible world power inclined towards a more positive role in Security Council decision-making"--P. [4] of cover Introduction The reasons for action: strategic preferences in explaining foreign policy China's strategic preferences in the UN Security Council, 1971-the mid 1980s China's decisions in the Security Council over the use of force (1990-2002) State sovereignty vs. humanitarian intervention: China's position over the establishment of no-fly zones (1991-1992) China and the UN sanctions regime against Iraq (1991-2002) Weapons inspections: China, the UN and the disarming of Iraq (1991-2002) Conclusions. Examining China's changing role in the UN security council, in the context of policy decisions and the Iraq intervention.