Aleš Bebler, delegate from Yugoslavia, abstained from voting.[17] The Soviet Union's delegate had boycotted all UN meetings because of procedural disagreements over the permanent security council seat going to the Republic of China (Taiwan) over the People’s Republic of China (Mainland) earlier in the year. Soviet ambassador to the United Nations Yakov Malik had been personally ordered not to attend the UNSC meetings by Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. Lie was a strong supporter of the resolution, as he saw the conflict as a challenge to the authority of the UN.[18]