'China strictly implements UN resolutions'
The nation has insisted it "strictly" implements UN sanctions resolutions, after G7 nations, the European Union and three other countries urged Beijing to expel oil tankers from its waters that appeared to be taking fuel to North Korea. A letter, addressed to Beijing's UN envoy Zhang Jun, raised concerns over the "continuing presence of multiple oil tankers" using Chinese waters to "facilitate their trade of sanctioned petroleum products to the DPRK", referring to North Korea by its official name. In response, Beijing said it was "strictly implementing UNSC resolutions and seriously fulfilling international obligations". "China urges relevant parties to fully implement UNSC resolutions on the DPRK, especially provisions related to resuming dialogue, strengthening diplomatic efforts, and promoting political settlement," the spokesperson for the nation’s mission to the UN said in a tweet on Monday. Asked about the letter at a regular briefing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: "When it comes to the implementation of the Security Council's resolutions, China has always earnestly fulfilled its international obligations." The letter – signed by ambassadors from G7 nations and envoys from the European Union, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand – noted that the presence and movement of the tankers had been observed by the UN group of experts tasked with monitoring sanctions compliance by North Korea. North Korea has been subject to UN sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missile launches and nuclear programmes. Additional sanctions in 2017 limited its crude oil imports. (AFP)