China refuses discussion on Coronavirus and blocks draft calling for transparency at the UNSC

China, which is being held responsible for the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak throughout the world is reportedly not refusing to discuss the issue in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The Coronavirus pandemic has affected lakhs and already claimed thousands of human life across the world.

However the United Nations hasn’t started discussions over this grave problem. Neither the United Nations General Assembly of 193 members, nor the 15 member UN Security Council has discussed the matter yet.

The Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun on being asked questions related to the discussion on COVID-19, replied that it is not on the agenda of the UNSC. The United Nations Security Council is alleged to be divided on its proposal on the pandemic. While several nations want to have a discussion on the global crisis, China is believed to be obstructing the process continuously.

According to reports, China and few other countries are blocking a draft to discuss the pandemic at the UNSC. The draft proposal prepared by Estonia highlights “growing concern about the unprecedented extent of the COVID-19 outbreak in the world, which may constitute a threat to international peace and security.”

The draft which calls for “full transparency” over the outbreak, clearly refers to growing criticism that China is withholding vital details about origin about the Virus, making China uncomfortable over the terminology of the draft. The US President Donald Trump has been alleging that China is misleading the world on the issue. Non-permanent member South Africa opposed the draft first, and later China and Russia also blocked it, as per reports.

The President of the UNSC for March is China. As a rule, the President decides what issues will be discussed in the UNSC. Although the term of President changes every month, as a permanent member China has veto power so it can continue to block the issue to be taken up by UNSC.