China Challenges US Unilateralism at UN General Assembly to Defend Iran and Cuba

General Assembly Debate on Post-War Order and Unilateralism

The Chinese delegation framed its address around the theme of maintaining the post-war international order and promoting common prosperity through multilateralism. The opening remarks addressed global challenges, highlighting ongoing geopolitical conflicts, widening development gaps, and escalating security pressures. According to the address, the international system anchored by the United Nations and governed by international law must be preserved to secure global peace. The statement rejected Cold War mentalities, bloc confrontation, and unilateral military actions undertaken without authorization from the United Nations Security Council. Major powers bear a special responsibility to adhere to established legal rules and maintain international stability, the delegation stated.

Direct Condemnation of Sanctions Against Iran and Cuba

While the broader principles addressed general international conduct, the remarks directly targeted the United States over its policies toward Cuba and Iran. The Chinese delegation urged the immediate cessation of military threats against Cuba and the complete lifting of economic, commercial, and financial blockades. United Nations bodies have documented severe impacts from these measures. The United Nations previously stated that American oil blockades against Cuba violate international law and have strained the island nation’s infrastructure, contributing to nationwide electrical grid failures. In May, Washington expanded sanctions to target individuals and entities operating in energy, defense, finance, and mining sectors that engage with the Cuban government. Earlier, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on agenda item 38 to demand an end to the American embargo, with 136 countries voting in favor and 9 against, including the United States and Israel. Regarding Iran, the address emphasized that the sovereignty and security of Gulf nations must be respected. This followed a September 17 Security Council vote on a draft resolution to extend the mandate of the panel of experts monitoring Iranian sanctions. China and Russia voted against the measure, pointing to the American withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as the root cause of the current crisis. Beijing cited American military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision as escalatory actions outside standard diplomatic channels.

Procedural Legitimacy and Enforcement Mechanisms

The core of the diplomatic critique focused on procedural legitimacy. Under international frameworks, neither Iran nor Cuba has been judged guilty by official United Nations bodies. Resolutions governing the Iranian nuclear issue under Security Council Resolution 2231 have concluded, and the General Assembly has repeatedly rejected the economic isolation of Cuba. When individual states execute punitive measures outside United Nations oversight, such actions function as unilateral penalties rather than collective security enforcement. The post-war international framework was designed to prevent unilateral force by centralizing authorization within the Security Council. By bringing these cases to the General Assembly, the Chinese delegation sought to reinforce the principle that enforcement actions require multilateral consensus rather than unilateral execution.