China and the United Nations in the context of "Veto"

⭐ In the context of veto power, China and the United Nations Security Council is considered…

Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: China and the United Nations

China is one of the members of the United Nations and is one of five permanent members of its Security Council. One of the victorious Allies of World War II (the Chinese theatre of which was the Second Sino-Japanese War), the Republic of China (ROC) joined the UN as one of its founding member countries in 1945. The subsequent resumption of the Chinese Civil War between the government of Republic of China and the rebel forces of the Chinese Communist Party, led to the latter's victory on the mainland and the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. Nearly all of mainland China was soon under its control and the ROC government (then referred to in the West as "Nationalist China") retreated to the island of Taiwan.

The One-China policy advocated by both governments dismantled the solution of dual representation but, amid the Cold War and Korean War, the United States and its allies opposed the replacement of the ROC at the United Nations until 1971, although they were persuaded to pressure the government of the ROC to accept international recognition of Mongolia's independence in 1961. The PRC sought to be recognized by the United Nations from the 1950s, but at least until 1961, the United States managed to keep the PRC out of the UN. The General Assembly Resolution 1668 which demanded a majority of two thirds for the recognition of new members was adopted in 1961. Canada and other allies of the United States individually shifted their recognitions of China to the PRC, which the US opposed. Some attempted to recognize both Chinas separately, which both Chinas opposed, each declaring itself the only legitimate representative of China. Annual motions to replace the ROC with the PRC were introduced first by the Soviet Union, then India and also Albania, but these were defeated.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<

πŸ‘‰ China and the United Nations in the context of Veto

A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution. Veto powers are also found at other levels of government, such as in state, provincial or local government, and in international bodies.

Some vetoes can be overcome, often by a supermajority vote: in the United States, a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate can override a presidential veto. Some vetoes, however, are absolute and cannot be overridden. For example, in the United Nations Security Council, the five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) have an absolute veto over any Security Council resolution.

↓ Explore More Topics
In this Dossier

China and the United Nations in the context of United Nations Command

United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command) is the multinational military force established to support the Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first attempt at collective security by the United Nations (UN) after the Charter of the United Nations was signed.

The UNC was established on 24 July 1950 following the United Nations Security Council's recognition, on 7 July, of North Korean aggression against South Korea. The motion passed because the Soviet Union, a close ally of North Korea and a member of the UN Security Council, was boycotting the UN at the time over its recognition of the Republic of China (Taiwan) rather than the People's Republic of China as 'China'. UN member states were called to provide assistance in repelling the North's invasion, with the UNC providing a cohesive command structure under which the disparate forces would operate. During the course of the war, 22 nations contributed military or medical personnel to UN Command; although the United States led the UNC and provided the bulk of its troops and funding, all participants formally fought under the auspices of the UN, with the operation classified as a "UN-led police action".

↑ Return to Menu

China and the United Nations in the context of Soviet Union boycott of the United Nations

From 13 January 1950 to 1 August 1950, the Soviet Union boycotted the United Nations by having their diplomat, Yakov Malik, not attend any United Nations Security Council meetings. The boycott originated because of a dispute over the representation of China in the United Nations. The Soviet Union demanded that representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC) be seated in the United Nations Security Council while the United Nations and its allies on the council recognized representatives of the Kuomintang and the Republic of China. After the Soviet Union lost a motion to seat the PRC in the UN on January 13th, 1950, it decided to boycott the organization. This was an attempt to prevent the Security Council from acting until it gave into the Soviet demand, but it backfired on the Soviet Union when the Security Council passed resolutions that the Soviet Union would have blocked had it been in attendance.

↑ Return to Menu