China's official newspapers today stepped up Beijing's opposition to Western air attacks on Libya, accusing nations backing the strikes of breaking international rules and courting new turmoil in the Middle East.
China's strongest condemnation yet of assaults on the forces of Libya's leader Muammar Gadafy appeared in The People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, and showed how the conflict could become a fresh point of contention between Beijing and Washington.
The paper accused the United States and its allies of violating international rules, although China had refrained from blocking the United Nations Security Council decision last week that effectively authorised the air attacks.
The People's Daily likened the assault on Libyan sites to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and suggested it followed a pattern of Western overreaching in other countries' affairs.
"The blood-soaked tempests that Iraq has undergone for eight years and the unspeakable suffering of its people are a mirror and a warning," said the commentary in the newspaper.
"The military attacks on Libya are, following on the Afghan and Iraq wars, the third time that some countries have launched armed action against sovereign countries," it said.
"It should be seen that every time military means are used to address crises, that is a blow to the United Nations Charter and the rules of international relations."
The commentary appeared under the penname of "Zhong Sheng", which in Chinese sounds like "Voice of the Centre" or "Voice of China", suggesting it is reflecting high-level government views.
The Foreign Ministry has expressed "serious reservations" about military action. Today, the Ministry said its Middle East envoy would visit Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar and Palestinian-controlled areas this week.
Although Beijing is unlikely to go beyond verbal sparring with Western governments over the strikes, its opposition could win points with Arab and other nations that may become more alarmed if the air attacks continue and bring more casualties.
"Criticising the military interventions is largely meant to gain diplomatic points among the developing world," said Li Mingjiang of Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.
China's criticism was echoed in other official newspapers.
The overseas edition of The People's Daily, a small offshoot of the main edition, said Western nations used concern about Libyan civilians attacked by Gadafy's forces as an "excuse", and said the attacks could open a "Pandora's Box" of chaos.
Agencies