Argentina's claim over Malvinas wins support

China's reaffirmed backing of Argentina at the United Nations over the Malvinas Islands in the South Atlantic has breathed new life into the South American nation's long-standing dispute with the United Kingdom.

Argentina claims ownership of the British-controlled islands that they call the Malvinas and the UK calls the Falklands, as well as nearby South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Their centuries-old dispute led to a war in 1982.

On June 21, during the latest meeting of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, or C-24, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said: "We firmly support Argentina's legitimate claim to sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and have always consistently advocated the settlement of territorial disputes between countries through peaceful negotiations in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations."

Following the meeting, the committee adopted a resolution requesting negotiations between Argentina and the UK to resume so as to resolve the territorial dispute. The resolution was backed by China and dozens of other countries. Chile introduced the text on behalf of Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela. Cuba supported the declaration on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines supported it on behalf of the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

Gonzalo Salimena, a professor at the University of Salvador in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, said China is "advocating the settlement of disputes within the framework of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly".

China, he said, is promoting dialogue and the exercise of legitimate institutional power.

" (The fact that) China has promoted the resumption of negotiations within the (UN) framework … not only indicates China's leadership in the international context in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, but also its intention to build a more moderate international order legitimized by the actions of the United Nations," Salimena said.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.