SINGAPORE: On 25 September, Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, called for substantial reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), focusing on constraining the veto powers exercised by the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Speaking during an open debate at the Security Council, he emphasised the need for the UN to adapt to the increasingly dangerous global landscape, where multiple crises are putting civilian lives at risk.

Dr Balakrishnan highlighted that the UN is at a critical juncture.

“The United Nations is at an inflection point. We need to reform multilateral and UN institutions to address both current and future challenges, including reform of this very Security Council,” he stated.

His remarks come as part of his participation in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York from 19 September to 28 September.

During his address, Dr Balakrishnan called on the Security Council to reconsider how the veto is exercised.

He noted that the increasing use of vetoes by the permanent members has paralyzed decision-making within the council, undermining its ability to maintain international peace and security.

He stressed, “All permanent members should focus on the broader goal of delivering international peace and security. However, the trend of the increasing exercise of the vetoes suggests we cannot leave this to the permanent five to voluntarily change their behaviour.”

The Security Council consists of 15 members, including 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

The current non-permanent members include Algeria, Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Dr Balakrishnan emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of these elected members, particularly in bridging gaps when the permanent five are entrenched in mutual distrust.

He argued that these members should have a greater say in key decision-making processes.

Dr Balakrishnan also called for a closer collaboration between the Security Council and other UN bodies to improve conflict prevention efforts.

He referred to Article 99 of the UN Charter, which allows the Secretary-General to bring attention to threats to international peace.

He noted the importance of the council responding swiftly when this article is invoked, particularly in cases of humanitarian crises and mass atrocities.

“Article 99 of the UN Charter is in fact a powerful preventive diplomacy tool,” Dr Balakrishnan said, referencing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ December 2023 appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza under Article 99.

It was the first time Guterres had invoked the article since taking office in 2017.

Singapore’s push for veto reform aligns with broader international efforts to address the limitations of the current UNSC structure.

In March 2024, Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Burhan Gafoor, expressed concern over the council’s declining effectiveness.

He cited the increase in vetoes since the adoption of a resolution in April 2022 aimed at limiting their use.

“Since the veto initiative resolution was adopted in April 2022, we have seen 12 vetoes,” Gafoor noted at the time.

Additionally, Singapore supports a French-Mexican initiative that seeks to limit the use of vetoes in situations involving mass atrocities.

This initiative proposes that permanent members abstain from voting in such cases, especially if they are directly involved in the conflict.

This stance was echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who also addressed the General Assembly on 25 September 2024, calling for reforms to veto power in cases of mass killings.

“Reform of the composition alone of the Security Council is not sufficient to make it more effective. ”

“I also wish for reform to change the operational methods to limit the right to a veto in case of mass crimes,” Macron stated, in what appeared to be a reference to Russia’s use of vetoes in conflicts like the Gaza war.

Dr Balakrishnan’s statements, alongside those of other world leaders, reflect growing frustration over the limitations of the UNSC, particularly when permanent members use veto power to block resolutions that could mitigate humanitarian disasters or end conflicts.

This issue was brought into sharp focus last year when the US vetoed a resolution calling for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and blocked a bid for full UN membership for the Palestinian Authority.

Similarly, in March 2024, Russia and China vetoed a US-led resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

CHINA: A 10-year-old boy, a dual citizen of Japan and China, succumbed to injuries after being stabbed while on his way to school in Shenzhen on Wednesday (18 September) morning.

The incident has raised alarms within the Japanese community in China and could further strain already tense Sino-Japanese relations.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the boy was attacked in the abdomen near a Japanese school and was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite efforts to save him, he died of his wounds early Thursday.

The assailant, a 44-year-old man, was arrested by police near the scene.

The motivations behind the attack remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether the boy was specifically targeted due to his nationality.

A local Japanese businessman expressed concerns for the safety of the community, advising vigilance and caution when speaking Japanese in public spaces.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the stabbing as an “extremely despicable crime” and called for prompt information sharing from Beijing regarding the investigation.

昨日、中国広東省深圳市で男に襲われた深圳日本人学校の児童が、１９日未明に逝去されたとの報告を受けており、深い悲しみを禁じ得ません。心からのお悔やみを申し上げます。
極めて卑劣な犯行であり、重大かつ深刻な事案と受け止めています。

— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) September 19, 2024

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, represented by spokesman Lin Jian, expressed condolences and emphasized the commitment to protecting foreign nationals in China.

Lin noted that such incidents could occur in any country and downplayed the potential impact on bilateral exchanges.

Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic scene, with the boy receiving immediate medical attention from passersby.

His mother was present during the attack.

This incident follows a similar knife attack in Suzhou in June, which left a Japanese mother and child injured.

In response to both attacks, Japanese officials have reiterated their demand for enhanced safety measures for their nationals in China.

Wednesday also marked the 93rd anniversary of a significant historical event—Japan’s bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang, which contributed to the Manchurian Incident and subsequent occupation of northeastern China during World War II.

In light of this, Japan had previously requested the Chinese government to bolster security at Japanese schools.

In mourning, Japan’s Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, ordered the national flag at the embassy to be flown at half-staff and planned to visit Shenzhen to meet the victim’s family.

The Japanese consulate in Guangzhou reported that local government officials had also extended their condolences.

Community responses in Shenzhen reflected a mix of shock and sorrow, with residents leaving flowers at the entrance of the Japanese school.

One local expressed shame over the incident as a Chinese national, while another voiced concern over the implications for Sino-Japanese relations.

As diplomatic tensions have already been heightened by issues such as espionage allegations against Japanese nationals and trade disputes, including a ban on Japanese seafood following the Fukushima disaster, this tragic event may exacerbate existing challenges.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has urged both governments to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens and seek clarity on the incident.

The investigation into the stabbing continues, with officials pledging to hold the perpetrator accountable under Chinese law.