Chinese envoy calls for calm, restraint at UN meeting on drone incident in Poland

China

Chinese envoy calls for calm, restraint at UN meeting on drone incident in Poland

2025-09-13 15:52 Last Updated At：21:27

A Chinese envoy on Friday called for calm and restraint at a United Nations Security Council emergency meeting on the drone breach into Poland.

Poland said Wednesday that 19 objects had entered its airspace overnight during drone exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, with several that posed a direct threat being shot down.

The Polish Armed Forces said Wednesday morning that multiple drone-type objects had "repeatedly violated" Poland's skies. An overnight air-defense operation saw Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s bring down at least three drones, before radar and ground systems returned to normal.

Speaking at the meeting, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, reiterated China's consistent stance that all countries should solve international disputes by peaceful means in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

"We have noticed the statements and responses from Poland, Russia, Belarus, and other relevant parties regarding the recent drone incident. We call on all parties to stay calm and restrained, properly resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation, avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, and prevent the situation from escalating. Under the current circumstances, any misunderstanding and miscalculation will exacerbate the trust deficit, any confrontational rhetoric may provoke escalation of the situation, and any military friction may trigger greater turmoil," said Geng.

Describing the incident as a spillover of the Ukraine crisis, Geng noted that while there have been positive momentum for dialogue recently, significant differences remain among parties on key issues.

The battlefield situation remains severe, and civilian suffering continues to deepen, he said, emphasizing that what the international community needs most now is goodwill rather than hostility, mutual efforts rather than military confrontation, and de-escalation rather than escalation of tensions.

"China calls on all parties to adhere to the three principles of preventing the spillover of conflict, avoiding escalation of hostilities, and refraining from fueling tensions. It is imperative to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible. We urge the relevant parties to demonstrate political will, maintain the momentum of peace talks, continue to build consensus, and strive for an early agreement on a peaceful resolution. We also call on the international community and regional countries to foster a positive atmosphere, create favorable conditions, and provide necessary assistance to this end," said Geng.

Geng said that China's position on the Ukraine issue is objective, fair, and consistent, focusing on promoting peace talks and a political solution.

China has maintained contact with the parties involved, dispatched special envoys for shuttle diplomacy, and initiated a group of Friends for Peace to address the Ukraine crisis at the United Nations, in a bid to gather consensus for peace and advance peace efforts, he said.

China stands ready to continue working with the international community to play a constructive role in promoting an early political solution to the crisis, Geng added.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.