Topic: 2026 – Clarification of Article 51
Country: China
Delegate Name: Owen Krueger
11/26/2025
Submitted to: Special Committee on the United Nations Charter
From: China
Subject: Article 51
The People’s Republic of China recognizes that the Special Committee on the United Nations Charter has been one of the most important committees for strengthening the UN, and specifically its Charter. Article 51 of the UN Charter allows for nations to respond to an armed attack with military action. Since just 2021 this article has been invoked nearly 80 times. This article has been interpreted literally as purely to be used in response to an attack, and it has been interpreted as allowing for preemptive action against perceived threats in order to stop an attack against their nation.
China in its history has never invoked Article 51 but recognizes its importance in preserving national security and sovereignty of member states of the UN. It should however be made clear that a looser interpretation of the Article to allow for preemptive action against an alleged threat goes too far. This interpretation would have the UN Charter contradicting itself by saying that the UN was to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war…”, but also allow nations to attack other sovereign nations on the claim that there was some kind of threat being posed by that state. Proving that there was going to be a threat is practically impossible. One nation guessing if another is going to attack them or not. Then that nation starting military action against the other nation depending on what the original nation thinks is not representative of the values shown in the UN Charter.
The People’s Republic of China believes that when it comes to disputes like this the United Nations Security Council and fellow member nations should step in for peaceful arbitration and de-escalation. China as a permanent member of the UNSC and a member nation of the UN has always worked to find peace internationally both on the UNSC and as an independent third party within Asia. The world will always be safer with more methods of negotiation and de-escalation, and this is the reason why China has worked to create the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). The IMOed is an effective body which allows for safe and non biased ways for nations to get third party mediations in disputes especially in developing nations and those in the global south who have been unable to receive adequate assistance from the current systems.
It is the hope of the People’s Republic of China that Article 51 of the UN charter remains with a stricter interpretation of the article as well as overall expanding methods to allow nations to receive adequate third party assistance if necessary. These two goals will help the United Nations and international community maintain peace by preventing unlawful preemptive attacks, and allowing for an alternate more effective, and more peaceful option in place of violence.
Works Cited
Yang Xi, Mr. (Translation) at the Sixth Committee of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Agenda Item 82 Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization. 2019.
United Nations Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization General Assembly Official Records Eightieth Session Supplement No. 33.
Sun, Yun. “The Purpose and Promise of China’s International Organization for Mediation.” Brookings, 6 June 2025, www.brookings.edu/articles/the-purpose-and-promise-of-chinas-international-organization-for-mediation/.
Hindsight, In. “In Hindsight: The Increasing Use of Article 51 of the UN Charter and the Security Council.” Security Council Report, 2025, www.securitycouncilreport.org/monthly-forecast/2025-10/in-hindsight-the-increasing-use-of-article-51-of-the-un-charter-and-the-security-council.php.
