China dampened expectations of further sanctions on Iran on Thursday, telling other major powers that more pressure would not persuade Tehran to halt its nuclear program.
In contrast, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the UN Security Council the world should consider “far tougher sanctions” if Iran continues to seek a nuclear weapon.
Both countries signed a letter on Wednesday in which the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany told Iran to prepare a “serious response” by Thursday to demands that it halt its nuclear program, or face the consequences.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain, China, France, Russia and the US are the permanent members of the 15-nation Security Council.
“As evidence of its breach of international agreements grows, we must now consider far tougher sanctions together,” Brown told a council meeting on nuclear proliferation chaired by US President Barack Obama.
At the end of the two-hour session, council members unanimously approved a resolution calling for an end to the proliferation of atomic weapons, but did not name Iran or North Korea, which is also in a standoff over its nuclear program.
The US-drafted resolution called for further efforts to achieve “a world without nuclear weapons” and all urged countries to sign the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Obama said he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed this week that additional UN sanctions would be considered if Iran doesn’t respond to proposals to end the nuclear standoff.
“We’ll be particularly telling Iran it’s got a decision to make,” Brown told the BBC before the council meeting. “It can work with the international community. We can help it get civil nuclear power, but if it persists with this course, it’s going to be isolated from the whole international community.”
The West suspects Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Iran insists it is limited to the peaceful generation of electricity and has rejected Security Council demands that it suspend sensitive nuclear activities.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
FOUR DESIGNATED AREAS: Notices were issued for live-fire exercises in waters south and northwest of Penghu, northeast of Keelung and west of Kaohsiung, they said The military is planning three major annual exercises across the army, navy and air force this month, with the navy’s “Hai Chiang” (海強, “Sea Strong”) drills running from today through Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The Hai Chiang exercise, which is to take place in waters surrounding Taiwan, would feature P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, the ministry said, adding that the drills aim to bolster the nation’s offshore defensive capabilities. China has intensified military and psychological pressure against Taiwan, repeatedly sending warplanes and vessels into areas near the nation’s air defense identification zone and across
COVETED PRIZE: The US president would be a peace prize laureate should he persuade Xi Jinping to abandon military aggression against Taiwan, William Lai said US President Donald Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize should he be able to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to abandon the use of force against Taiwan, President William Lai (賴清德) told a conservative US radio show and podcast in an interview. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer, despite the absence of formal ties, but since Trump took office earlier this year he has not announced any new arms sales to the nation. Trump could meet Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Lai, speaking on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
RSS