[China regrets that the United States forced the vote on the Security Council draft resolution on the issue of Western Sahara] On October 31, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong made an explanatory speech after the Security Council voted on the draft resolution on the extension of the authorization of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) on the 30th, expressing regret that the United States forced the vote. Fu Cong said that China abstained from voting on the draft resolution drafted by the United States. Over the years, MINURSO has conscientiously implemented the mandate of the Security Council, played an important role in maintaining stability on the ground, preventing the escalation of the situation, protecting civilians, and creating good conditions for promoting the political settlement of the Western Sahara issue. China supports the one-year extension of the mandate of MINURSO. Regrettably, the US draft resolution failed to continue the previous Security Council resolution framework on the Western Sahara issue, failed to fully balance and accommodate the concerns of all parties, and was intended to pressure one party to accept the preset negotiation results. The pen-writing country failed to give the members of the Security Council enough time to fully consult, and forced a vote when all parties still had major differences on the draft. This approach is not conducive to the unity and cooperation of the Security Council, nor is it conducive to the political settlement of the Western Sahara issue. (CCTV News)