The UN should play the leading role in resolving the Syrian crisis, and countries should seek to work together under its auspices

Since Aug 21, the Syrian crisis has continued to escalate because of the allegations that chemical weapons have been used. Before the United Nations inspectors started their investigations and fact-finding activities on Aug 26, the United States had already started a high-profile media blitz that strikes against Syria were imminent. The New York Times reported on Aug 24 that the US would bypass the United Nations to directly launch air strikes against Syria. US officials were considering the war in Kosovo at the end of the 1990s as the precedent for attacking Syria without authorization from the UN. All of a sudden, US comments and actions became the biggest factor bearing a decisive impact on the Syrian crisis, and the whole world had their eyes on the US.

Some analysts pointed out that the Obama administration had apparently already made military preparations for the imminent use of force against the Syrian government, but it could still not ascertain if the Syrian rebels were ready to take over the government. Once this is ascertained, US strikes will be certain.

However, the United States should exercise caution in any military action against Syria.

First of all, any military action in Syria cannot be justified, morally or legally, before the release of the investigation report by the UN fact-finding team, and any evidence from the US or any other side is not enough to convince or be accepted by the international community. The Iraq war is a telling example of misleading the international community with false information.

Second, the US has claimed it will launch limited strikes against Syria and does not have regime change as its goal. If this is the case, the Syrian government will resolutely resist and fight for its survival and dignity. This will lead to a further deterioration in the situation and will trigger an even worse humanitarian disaster in Syria.

According to data released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Syrian refugees exceed 1.9 million, with the number of child refugees exceeding 1 million. Inside Syria, another 2 million children have been displaced, becoming destitute and homeless. These are not simply figures, they show the suffering of the Syrian people. Who could possibly bear the responsibility for further escalating the Syrian humanitarian crisis?

Third, if the US, in cooperation with its allies, launches a full-scale military attack and topples the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, it will face difficult options afterwards, because there are an unknown number of extremists among the Syrian opposition; the US will not be willing to shoulder such a heavy burden. Even worse, a war will open a "Pandora's box" in the region and the consequences will be unpredictable. As far as US internal affairs are concerned, President Barack Obama has to cooperate closely with Congress on a series of issues, including the debt limit, the fiscal budget for 2014 and the appointment of a new Federal Reserve chairman. Are Americans ready or willing to bear heavier debts for military intervention in Syria?

The role of the UN should not be ignored in solving the Syrian issue. As the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental institution, the UN should play an important role in the Syrian issue. At present, UN members have differences on the Syrian issue, and this means it has become more urgent to consult and to seek common ground by shelving differences; more urgent to abide by the UN Charter and the code of conduct for international relations; and not advisable to attempt to tackle this issue by bypassing the UN. Otherwise, all parties in the Syrian crisis will go further astray from the road of a political solution.

China is highly concerned about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, and has clearly expressed its stance of opposing the use of chemical weapons by any party in Syria and supporting the UN Secretariat in carrying out an independent, objective, impartial and professional investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in accordance with relevant UN resolutions. At the same time, China has also warned that military action could have serious and destructive consequences. A political solution is the only practical way to resolve the crisis in Syria. The most urgent task now is to hold, as early as possible, the second Geneva Conference on Syria. Therefore, all parties should exercise caution in dealing with the chemical weapons issue in Syria, so as to avoid any disturbance to the political process. The international community should consolidate their consensus and common ground, and join hands in promoting a political solution.

The crisis in Syria is extremely complicated, and it is also complicated by various regional conflicts and disputes. Although it is not easy to seek a political solution concerted efforts should be made to achieve such a solution. And the political process to lead Syria to peace will continue. If all big powers have the courage to shelve or put an end to their differences and join hands to engage in effective intervention within the framework of the UN, it will not only help end the sufferings of the Syrian people and prevent long-term turmoil in the region, it would also help find a new way to prevent similar conflicts in the future, and enlarge the room for cooperation among the big powers in this new era.

The author is a Chinese special envoy to the Middle East.www.chinausfocus.com

(China Daily 09/09/2013 page8)