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As many observers had expected, Russia and China used their veto privileges to block the latest attempt by members of the United Nations Security Council to take concrete measures to stop the bloodshed in Syria.
Activists reported earlier on Monday that another twelve civilians had been killed in the city of Homs, and residents reported an explosion at an oilpipeline feeding a local refinery.
Both Russia and China enjoy economic interests in the country, with the former being a key arms supplier over the years. But economic arguments are not the ones cited for the joint opposition to the move.
The People’s Daily, the newspaper of the ruling party in China, made reference to previous attempts of forced regime changes, pointing to Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq as examples of why such an approach simply does not work.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman was also quick to reject US accusations it was responsible for protecting the Syrian regime. And Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov went as far as to condemn the Western reaction to its veto use as “hysterical”.
The diplomatic stalemate and continued violence in cities across Syria also means its economy will continue to suffer. Foreign direct investment (FDI), trade and tourism are crucial sources of foreign currency that have dwindled since the beginning of the uprising a year ago.
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