China’s UN Syria vote shows consistency, ministry says

China's vote against the draft resolution on Syria on the UN Security Council on Monday is based on China's consistent stance on the issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday.

The draft, proposed by Egypt, Spain and New Zealand saw three countries vote against - China, Russia and Venezuela.

"China firmly supports the political solution of the Syrian issue, supports the Syrian people in deciding their country's future independently, and opposes intervention by outside forces," Lu said.

"We advocate the international community to make concerted efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation in the region. But we have always opposed politicizing humanitarian issues," he said.

The action by the UN Security Council should help build consensus among all parties and maintain its solidarity at a time when the situation in Syria is "extremely complicated and sensitive", Lu said.

"China does not agree with the UN Security Council to vote on draft resolutions over which there are still differences," he said. "Issuing ultimatums in the council never helps the solution of the issue, but only causes the council's split."

Regarding comments by the UK Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, who said China's vote "is particularly surprising", Lu quoted China's Ambassador to the UN Liu Jieyi and said: "How did the Syrian issue develop to what it is now today? ... What is the root cause? What roles did relevant countries play? The history has a clear record. And all relevant parties know that very well."