The United Nations General Assembly resolution 498 was approved on February 1, 1951, in response to the intervention of Chinese Communist troops in Korean War.
UN General Assembly Resolution 498 | |
---|---|
Date | February 1st 1951 |
Meeting no. | 327 |
Code | A/RES/498 (V) (Document) |
Subject | Intervention of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in Korea |
Voting summary |
|
Result | Adopted |
It was the first time in which United Nations treated a nation as an aggressor.[1]
Background
editIn late 1950, hundreds of thousands of Chinese Communist troops crossed into North Korea to help the troops of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight the coalition led by United States and the Republic of Korea.[1]
The General Assembly vote followed unsuccessful attempts by the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to have the Security Council take action against the Chinese Communists. Exercising his nation's veto power, the Soviet representative on the Security Council consistently blocked the U.S. effort. Turning to the General Assembly, the U.S. delegation called for the United Nations to condemn communist China as an aggressor in Korea.[1]
The resolution in few words
editThe resolution had 3 main points:
- The aggression of the People's Republic of China is condemned
- The Chinese troops are exhorted to leave Korea
- The United Nations member states are exhorted to continue supporting the U.N. troops in Korea [2]
The voting in detail
editFor
Argentina
Australia
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Ethiopia
France
Greece
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Iceland
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Lebanon
Liberia
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Thailand
Turkey
Union of South Africa
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Uruguay
Venezuela
Against
Abstentions
Aftermath
editThe action was largely symbolic, because many nations were reluctant to take more forceful action against the People's Republic of China for fear that the conflict in Korea would escalate. While economic and political sanctions could have been brought against Red China, the United Nations decided to take no further action. The Korean War continued for 2 more years, finally ending in a stalemate and an armistice in 1953.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "This day in History: U.N. condemns PRC for aggression". A&E Television Networks. 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ "A/RES/498 (V)" (PDF). United Nations. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ "The Question of Korea". Yearbook of the United Nations 1951. New York City: United Nations. 1951. p. 224. OCLC 867230999. Retrieved 2 April 2015.