China opposes use of chemical weapons: spokeswoman

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-4-26 22:16:09

China has always firmly opposed the use of chemical weapons and disapproves of military interventions in any country, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said here on Friday.

"The use of chemical weapons violates international law and principles widely upheld by the international community and China firmly opposes this despite who uses it," Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing. China's stance has been consistent and clear.

The spokeswoman also noted that China disapproves of military interventions in any country and that position is also consistent and clear.

She said relevant parties should stick to political solution as the only correct way to resolve the Syria issue, adding that the current priority is to promote the Syrian government and its opposition to a cease fire and end violence at an early date.

China hopes involved parties start a political dialogue and achieve a political transition on the basis of the communique of the foreign ministers' meeting of the Action Group for Syria, Hua added.

"China calls on the international community to make unremitting efforts to produce a political settlement on the issue in a responsible manner," Hua added.

Earlier on Thursday, the White House said in a letter sent to some members of Congress, "The US intelligence community assesses with some degree of varying confidence that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a small scale in Syria."

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Thursday that use of such weapons "violates every convention of warfare."

The British Foreign Office said Thursday they had "limited but persuasive information" showing chemical weapons had been used in Syria.

If it is definitive that Syria has used chemical weapons, the US will consider all responses, an unnamed official of the White House said on Thursday.

Posted in: Diplomacy

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