Sino-US Spat Delays UN's Peace Resolution

China and the United States remained at loggerheads on Thursday over a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for a 90-day humanitarian pause in conflicts worldwide in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

The stalemate – over a mention of the World Health Organisation – leaves little hope of a quick vote as the Security Council struggles to find a response to the global crisis, remaining largely mute since the once-in-a-century pandemic began killing tens of thousands of people and shutting down economies across the world.

"It's a major stalemate, nobody's moving," one diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We're treading water," said another.

The text, authored by France and Tunisia, has been under discussion for weeks.

It calls for a 90-day humanitarian pause to bring aid to the most vulnerable populations caught in conflicts around the globe, including in places such as Afghanistan and Yemen.

The draft also supports a March 23 plea by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a worldwide ceasefire to facilitate the fight against the coronavirus.

But Washington and Beijing remain at loggerheads over how to refer to the WHO in the text.

The WHO's role in dealing with the pandemic has been vilified by US President Donald Trump, who complained it had not been transparent about the coronavirus and suspended US funding to it. China responded by offering additional funding.

China "insists on a mention of the World Health Organisation" in the text, while the United States does not want it, several diplomats explained, asking for anonymity.

"We don't comment on ongoing negotiations" at the Security Council, the US State Department said when asked about the stalemate.

No reaction could be obtained from the Chinese mission to the UN. (AFP)