Cornerstone of peace needs reinforcing, not demolishing

In the aftermath of the immense catastrophe of the Anti-Fascist War, the international community joined hands to establish the United Nations and formulate the UN Charter, laying the cornerstones of the modern international order and the basic norms governing international relations.

However, it seems like the lessons of history are hard to learn for some. Eighty years on, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a UN General Assembly event to mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter on June 26, "Today, we see assaults on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter like never before".

These assaults include the threat or use of force against sovereign nations; the violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law; the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure; the weaponization of food and water; and the erosion of human rights, as the UN chief noted.

It is fully justified for Guterres to call out the selective application of the UN Charter, which is by no means an a-la-carte menu, on the anniversary occasion as the UN Charter, as well as the UN system, is increasingly being leveraged as a tool by some parties. These parties stress rights and interests but ignore their obligations and responsibilities in handling international relations and regional issues.

The rise of unilateralism as a result of the United States' desire to maintain its hegemony has seriously threatened the UN-centered world order. Even among parties that claim they uphold the principles of the UN Charter some are just selectively using it as an excuse to justify their moves. They merely pay lip service to the UN's core objectives of maintaining international peace and security, promoting international cooperation, and respecting human rights and equal rights.

But the UN Charter is not optional. It is the bedrock of international relations. Countries cannot and must not normalize violations of its most basic principles, as the UN chief urged.

Otherwise, the world is reopening Pandora's box, repeating the history of war and chaos. As China's permanent representative to the UN Fu Cong said, remembering history is not to perpetrate hatred, but to better cherish the present and shape the future. Only with a correct understanding of history, can we fulfill the noble ideal enshrined in the UN Charter, "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war".

Concepts such as sovereign equality, noninterference and the peaceful settlement of disputes have gradually taken root in people's hearts. Countries must firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order based on international law, and the rules-based multilateral trading system, and unequivocally say no to all forms of power politics and bullying.

Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is a never-ending mission, and the countries need more than ever to respect and recommit to international law — in words and deeds.

True, the UN needs to keep pace with the times through continuous reform and improvement. But the more volatile the global landscape, the greater the need for international solidarity to support the UN's central role in international affairs.

Certain countries treat the UN as something they can use when it suits them and discard when it doesn't. They willfully withdraw from agreements and organizations, default on contribution payments, and cut funding in an attempt to place their narrow interests over the collective global good. Such practices are deeply unpopular and harm all countries, including the perpetrators.

China stands ready to work with all UN member states to practice true multilateralism, cement the foundation of world peace and development, and build a community with a shared future for humanity.