Britain looks to China for support on Iraq

Staff and wires

China, along with Russia, France, the U.S. and Britain is a member of the U.N. Security Council

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BEIJING, China -- A top British envoy is in Beijing to try to garner support for a proposed U.N. resolution that would compel Iraq to disarm or face military action.

Along with France and Russia, China is one of five veto wielding U.N. Security Council members Britain and the U.S. are trying to persuade to support a draft resolution that would give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein no room to manoeuvre on weapons inspections.

William Ehrman, deputy undersecretary of state for defence and international security, will discuss Iraq with officials from China's Foreign Ministry in the Chinese capital on Monday, the Beijing-based source said.

France and Russia have made clear they oppose a push by U.S. President George W. Bush's administration for a quick move to military action against Iraq.

Beijing has indicated it prefers differences between Iraq and the U.S. be resolved by diplomatic means, with UN playing a pivotal role in mediation efforts.

Saddam Hussein's top officials have visited China in a bid to rally support against a U.S. strike.

"Using force or threats of force is unhelpful in solving the Iraq issue and will increase regional instability and tensions," China's official Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan as saying in a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri in Beijing.

A new Security Council resolution is in the pipeline that would require Iraq unconditionally readmit weapons monitors or face the military consequences.

Analysts say that based on its past record China, which is trying to improve relations with Washington while keeping the door open for potential oil deals with Iraq, would likely abstain in the vote on such a resolution.

While saying it is opposed to using force against Iraq, China has also urged Baghdad to allow the unconditional return of arms inspectors.

On Friday, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Baghdad should comply with disarmament resolutions but said any attack on Iraq not backed by the Security Council would have "incalculable consequences."

But analysts have said Beijing's recent statements reflect a more open-minded attitude to action on Iraq than in the run-up to the 1991 Gulf War, when it abstained from almost all Security Council votes and later opposed sanctions on Iraq.

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